Mom sparks firestorm after claiming she was asked to leave restaurant because she was breastfeeding… as owner blames ‘miscommunication’
A mother has claimed she was left ‘humiliated’ after she alleged she was kicked out of a Texas restaurant for breastfeeding her five-month-old son.
Aura McCullough alleged that staff at Nowhere Bar in Celina ‘ruined’ her first Father’s Day when they asked her, her husband and young child to leave the establishment because she had exposed her breasts for ‘long periods of time.’
One of the owners of the restaurant, however, has denied this was the case and has insisted that the establishment does not prohibit breastfeeding. They added that the situation was a result of ‘miscommunication.’
They claimed what was reported was a ‘situation that made a young employee feel uncomfortable’ which led her to ‘ask a manager for assistance.’
‘From there, a miscommunication occurred and escalated beyond what anyone intended,’ they said.
Speaking in a now-viral video, McCullough alleged that a staff member approached her table and told her she needed to cover herself while nursing.
McCullough refused and asked if another customer had complained.
According to the mom, the manager had been monitoring the restaurant’s security cameras. The restaurant has denied her claim they had watched her on security cameras.
Aura McCullough alleged that staff at Nowhere Bar in Celina, Texas, ‘ruined’ her first Father’s Day
In her video, McCullough claimed she asked to speak with a manager, only to be told the employee she was speaking with was the manager.
Following this interaction, she alleged she canceled her food order and asked for the bill.
The employee returned and said that her check was going to be paid by the owner but the family would have to leave.
‘That was extremely humiliating and demoralizing,’ McCullough said.
‘They ruined my family’s first Father’s Day, and they shamed a mother for trying to feed her baby.’
McCullough went on to claim that the restaurant owner denied removing her for breastfeeding but instead said she had been kicked out for exposing her breasts.
‘She wants everyone to believe that a mother and a wife drove 30 minutes to a local burger joint to just hang with her boobs out,’ she added.
Nowhere Bar hit back at McCullough’s claims in a video response and stressed that breastfeeding is not prohibited on site.
Speaking in the video, the co-owner said the situation was a result of ‘miscommunication’
Nowhere Bar is described as a neighborhood dive bar and is open seven days a week
‘We have never asked anybody to stop breastfeeding, we have never asked anybody to leave because they were breastfeeding and that has not and will not ever be our policy,’ one of the owners said.
‘As a mother who breastfed two boys in public, I mean it when I say that breastfeeding mothers are very welcome in Nowhere.’
The woman went on to add that they believe restaurant staff were acting in good faith and that, unfortunately, both parties have ‘different perspectives on what happened.’ While Nowhere Bar denied McCullough’s claims in a video response shared on the venue’s social media, they did apologize.
‘Creating an experience like this for any guest is never our intention,’ she added. ‘We’re deeply sorry.’
Ending the recorded statement, the co-owner said: ‘We hope we can all move forward with a little bit of grace and understanding.’
The incident ignited a firestorm on social media, with many torn over breastfeeding etiquette.
‘I’m a woman, breastfeed if you want but, please do it discreetly,’ one said. ‘Have some modesty for you and your family.’
Another commented: ‘Why is it difficult to discreetly feed your infant? Cover up and don’t create a stupid disruption.’
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 165 states a mother can breastfeed or express breast milk for her baby anywhere she is otherwise allowed to be.
