Content creator and family influencer Daryl-Ann Denner has sparked an online debate after sharing footage of herself breastfeeding her baby while travelling in South Korea. Some social media users questioned not the act of nursing in public itself, but how the baby appeared to be held in the videos.
The discussion began circulating on Reddit after users on the r/InfluencerLounge subreddit shared and commented on footage of Denner during her trip to Korea. While some commenters criticised the influencer's decision to breastfeed while walking around, others pushed back against what they saw as judgement of a mother simply feeding her child.
A Well-Documented Family Life
Denner is a Dallas-based influencer and co-founder of clothing brand Nuuds. She has built a large online following by documenting her family life alongside her business ventures. Her website describes her as a wife, mother and influencer who has been sharing her everyday life online for more than a decade.
The Reddit discussion, however, quickly moved beyond breastfeeding itself. Several commenters said they were more concerned about the baby's positioning and the appearance of the infant being supported while Denner was moving around.
The original poster clarified that they had 'no issues with nursing in public' but were concerned that the baby was 'not supported very well'.
Another said that nursing while standing was not inherently problematic, but argued that the mother should use both hands to support the infant.
Others took a different view, pointing out that breastfeeding can require considerable time and that mothers may need to feed their babies while away from home. Some commenters also objected to the criticism of Denner, arguing that breastfeeding itself should not be treated as something shameful.
Is Public Breastfeeding Frowned Upon in South Korea?
The debate also touched on cultural expectations surrounding breastfeeding in South Korea.
Public breastfeeding is less commonly seen in Korean society than in some other countries, according to a 2022 report from the Korea JoongAng Daily, which described public nursing as relatively uncommon and discussed the stigma some breastfeeding mothers encounter.
That does not mean breastfeeding in public is prohibited in South Korea, and the Reddit discussion should not be treated as evidence of how Korean people generally responded to Denner. Instead, the comments illustrate the different expectations surrounding public breastfeeding and parenting that can emerge when influencers document family life abroad.
Is It Being 'Performative'?
Some Reddit users also accused Denner of making breastfeeding 'performative', particularly because she appeared to continue shopping or moving around while feeding her baby. Those claims are opinions expressed by commenters, not independent facts.
Research into public breastfeeding more broadly has found that mothers can face stigma and discomfort when feeding their children outside the home. A systematic review published in Maternal & Child Nutrition identified social attitudes, beliefs, environmental factors and concerns about stigma among the issues influencing how women breastfeed in public.
The controversy surrounding Denner is less about whether a mother can breastfeed in public and more about the competing expectations placed on mothers when parenting becomes part of social-media content. What one viewer sees as practical multitasking can look to another like unnecessary performance particularly when a baby's wellbeing and privacy are involved.
