Rumer Willis fires back at parenting critics by sharing intimate video breastfeeding daughter Louetta ahead of her third birthday

Rumer Willis has hit out at people criticising her parenting, by sharing a touching clip of her breastfeeding her daughter Louetta, who turns three this month.

The actress, 37, welcomed her first child on April 18, 2023 with her ex-boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas, and frequently shares proud snaps documenting her breastfeeding journey.

However, after finding herself the target of much judgement for her parenting posts, she took to her Instagram on Sunday to fire back.

Writing over the clip of her cradling a nursing Louetta, Rumer said: ‘When someone starts judging my parenting’ before cutting to a viral TikTok of a woman instructing others how to stay out of her business, using a tongue-in-cheek whiteboard diagram.

Unafraid to stand up for herself, the daughter of former Hollywood power couple Bruce Willis and Demi Moore pointedly captioned the video: ‘Sorry not sorry’.

But, despite her emphatic response to outsider opinions, many people took to the comments to maintain that Louetta was too old to still be breastfed.

They stated: ‘If they’re old enough to ask for it…they shouldn’t have this lol too far. And this isn’t more for her, it’s you’; ‘3 is way too old to keep breastfed. Sorry honey !!!’;

‘In all seriousness with her being 3 at what point do u stop? Why not pump and have her drink from a cup? That’s a normal milestone. I understand the whole bonding aspect and how healthy breast milk is etc I just don’t understand why she has to be on the actual breast at that age.’;

‘It’s more for you at this point. Not sorry.’; ‘when they are old enough to ask for it you just become a faucet…’;

‘To each their own but at a certain point the child should be guided off the breast. My kids would eat Dunkin for breakfast everyday at 4/5 yrs old but I don’t let them. We have to be tough with our kids on so many levels, pacifiers and breast feeding are step one in my opinion’.

While several came to Rumer’s defence to say they had also continued to nurse their children until the age of four and told her to ignore any criticism.

They wrote: ‘I fully support this! My last daughter breastfed until she was almost 4! She is going to University to be a nurse in a couple years!’;

‘Nursed my daughter until she was 4 yrs old…. yes there was judgement but I didn’t care! Do u!!’; ‘I breastfed my daughter until she was three; no regrets’;

‘Nursing is so normal & beautiful, it should be seen everywhere, and embraced. Giving children what is biologically normal, with lifelong benefits, including a secure attachment, is something we should all celebrate and support. I’m currently nursing my youngest who is 4yo, and nursed his siblings well beyond toddlerhood too, it was so helpful especially when they were injured in childhood, to help calm them down.’; 

‘Mmmmm, outside of giving birth, it’s literally the most natural thing a mom can do. Literally what beasts are made for.’; ‘I nursed until my daughter stopped on her own at 4 years, 4 months. She’s now 15 and I look back on this time with such happiness’;

‘OMG all these comments , why? You clearly have this safe and beautiful Relationship with your daughter, Providing her with comfort and love. You do you. And you are brave and honest enough to show it.’

However, the majority of commenters insisted that while Rumer’s parenting decisions were hers to make, by publicly posting videos of her breastfeeding online she was purposefully inviting judgement.

They accused the actress of being ‘contradictory’ and even ‘rage-baiting’ by sharing the ‘special and private moment with billions’ while stating she didn’t care for others’ opinions, and argued that it was also not fair on Louetta.

‘No one is judging your parenting, just posting breast feeding…..which you’ve now made public and everyone’s business,’ they insisted.

‘I totally understand the concept of minding your own business but it’s negated when you post it on social media for the public to see! That’s contradictory. Either keep those parenting moments private for yourself and don’t post them to keep everyone else out of that business or deal with the opinions of others when you post it on a social media platform for the world to see!’; 

‘Hope it doesn’t bother the kid when she gets older. Since this is pictured on social media more than once. Don’t think its fair to her.’; ‘This seems like rage bait… seriously, why?’; 

‘Do whatever you want but posting it on Instagram is literally asking for opinions that you know you won’t like.’; ‘Rage baiting.. cmon you’re better than that’; ‘So, stay out of your business that you publicly share? Ok.’;

‘This is your private moment and so it should be just for YOU and YOUR BABY!!! When you put a phone or whatever electronic to record it for the whole world to see it… then it’s not your business anymore, the whole world can have access to comment and say their opinions since YOU are making it as it is!!!! So take it!’; 

‘What a ridiculous post. If you don’t want people in your business then keep it private.’; ‘I have never understood why women feel the need to breast feed on social media . Some thing should be special and private not between you and billions’;

‘Your daughter will watch this one day as an adult and won’t be happy.’; ‘By posting your private moments with your daughter, you are making it everyone’s business.’;

‘Why put yourself out there to be judged? Why have to show everyone what you’re doing with your child? Some things should just be private and that’s ok too. You don’t need validation from strangers or critics either.’

It’s not the first time that Rumer’s had to contend with backlash over sharing intimate snaps of her breastfeeding her daughter.

However, she has shrugged off any and all judgement, previously proudly baring her chest to celebrate World Breast Feeding Week in August 2024.

With a gallery of photos of her nursing Louretta from birth, she declared that  breastfeeding ‘has been one of the most joyful and bonding experiences of my life with Lou, who is still nursing at 16 months. 

‘I don’t know when we will stop but I am sure we will figure it out together.’ 

She stressed the benefits of breastfeeding for nutrition, development and bonding,  saying: ‘Breast milk is a miraculous living substance, rich in antibodies, essential nutrients, and enzymes that bolster a baby’s immune system and promote healthy development.

‘It’s more than just nourishment; it’s a gift of health and bonding that every mother should have the opportunity to give.’

While her fans were supportive of her message, many took issue with her revealing a private moment and found the photos exposing her bare breasts uncomfortable.

But once again, Rumer clapped back at her detractors, blasting them for trying to make her feel shamed for sharing her breastfeeding journey and insisted it was not a big deal.

Admitting she’d never anticipated that people would take umbrage with her post, she told People at the time: ‘I didn’t think it was that big of a thing because I grew up in a naked house. 

‘I didn’t grow up in a house where we had shame about being naked, ever. I didn’t think I was posting that crazy of things, even for me — I know I can be a little escándalo.’

Delivering a clear message to critics, she went on:  ‘I’m like, “Really? How would you feel if I told you to lock yourself in a little cubicle at the airport when you wanted to eat?” I’m feeding my kid. It’s not sexual unless you’re making it that way.’

She griped about the people who constantly police her Instagram posts, lamenting: ‘I posted the cutest photo of [Louetta] where you can literally see the line of her butt on my Instagram, and I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal and people literally went off on me as if I had posted an up-close photo of her vagina.

‘They were like, “The sexual predators. This is horrific. Shame on you.” Blah, blah, blah. You’re making it sexual, but it’s a crack in her butt.’

Rumer welcomed her little girl with ex-boyfriend Derek in 2023 before revealing they’d split in August the following year.

Revealing the news during an ‘uncensored’ Instagram AMA (ask me anything), she said: ‘I am single momming it and co-parenting. I’m so grateful for Lou. 

‘She is the best thing in my life and I am forever grateful I was able to have the time in that relationship for her to come into my life.’

Back in November 2025, she told fans she ‘had a good cry in the woods’ over the challenges of being a single mother. 

‘Some days being a single mom is hard. She is not hard (ever) but some days doing everything alone can be,’ she added.

Rumer insists she’s the sole provider for Louetta, with details about any co-parenting or financial support from Derek remaining unclear. 

And in February, she took to social media to hit back at comments that she benefitted financially from her famous multi-millionaire parents, insisting she takes pride in supporting herself and her daughter.

Sharing an Instagram Reel titled Single Moms Be Like showing herself juggling daily tasks, she wrote: ‘Just had to clarify since it seems there are quite a few uninformed and rude people in my comments on this post.

‘I work 4 different jobs to provide for my daughter. I am the sole provider for her. I don’t live off a trust fund or get money from my parents. Most of the time I don’t have help with her. So how about y’all pause before you judge and assume.’