Bette Midler Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Hot water. Bette MidlerThe controversy surrounds a seemingly innocent motherhood suggestion that triggered backlash amid the national shortage of formulas.
“TRY BREAST-FEEDING,” the Hocus Pocus star, 76, tweetedThursday, May 12, 2012 “It’s free and available on demand.”
Midler replied to MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle’s message earlier that day in which she broke down the trending news story.
“The baby formula shortage reveals an amazing secret oligopoly: 3 American companies control over 90% of the [market], hugely restrictive regulations (thanks to big $ lobbying) prohibit foreign formulas,” Ruhle, 46, wrote via the social media platform. “Name another industry/sector/product like this.”
According to a survey, many parents are finding it more difficult to find baby formula at stores across the country. CBS News report earlier this month, explaining that many bestselling products had been out of stock since April. To reduce their stock, stores began to limit the number of products that a consumer could buy at one time.
Many parents have searched for a way of feeding their children, but the answer is not there. Beaches Actress tried to make a suggestion that many Twitter users disagreed.
“Not everyone is able to breast-feed for lots of reasons. And even for those who can, it’s not easy or free,” one social media user wrote on Thursday.
Another added: “Bette, respectfully, this is a very bad take. I had twins. I didn’t produce enough milk for both. Without formula, I would have to have chosen which one to eat. To say nothing of kids that get separated from the birth mothers very young.”
After Midler — who shares daughter Sophie Von Haselberg, 35, and husband Martin Von Haselberg — was hit with criticism over her perceived lack of knowledge, she doubled down on her opinion.
“People are piling on because of former tweet. No shame if you can’t breast-feed, but if you can & are somehow convinced that your own milk isn’t as good as a ‘scientifically researched product,’ that’s something else again,” the Broadway legend tweetedIt was several hours later. “The monopoly news is news to me, tho, no lie. #WETNURSES.”
Midler previously came under fire after sharing a racially insensitive message on the social media site in October 2018, referring to women as the “N-word of the world” and the “most disrespected creatures on Earth.” (The tweet has since been deleted.)
“Angrily I tweeted w/o thinking my choice of words would be enraging to black women who doubly suffer, both by being women and by being black,” the Hocus Pocus 2. Star made a public apology, stating that she was upset by Supreme Court justices. Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing in light of the “Me Too” movement and wanted to share her thoughts about the sexual assault allegations against him. “I am an ally and stand with you; always have. And I apologize.”
