Erin Lichy broke her silence after mom-shamers slammed her online for allegedly putting her newborn in danger.
“This is such a delicate topic that should be handled with immense care,” Lichy, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly in a statement on Tuesday, April 8, after she was criticized for how she held her son in a recent video shared via social media.
The Real Housewives of New York City star confessed, “I’m really disappointed in the pop culture clickbait community. It has just taken it too far.”
Erin announced the birth of her and husband Abe Lichy’s fourth baby, son Jack, on March 30. Days later, she came under fire after posting a TikTok video where she made a martini in one hand while holding the newborn in the crook of her elbow.
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“She’s backkkkk,” Erin captioned the April 2 upload, which featured Diamond DonDada’s “She’s Back” lyrics in the background.
While the video was playful in nature, some users voiced concerns and criticism over how Erin held Jack, seemingly without any neck support. “So, about the baby’s neck support …” one user commented, while another wrote, “Tell a friend how to hold an infant.”
At the time, Erin replied in the comments section, writing, “Looks worse than it is promise lol.”
A few other users came to Erin’s defense, with one writing, “Y’all she has kids I am sure the baby is fine relax. Go off queen.” After a separate fan replied, “Haters STOP baby boy is fine!!!!!!!!!” Erin seconded the message, responding, “Haters.”
Since then, the Bravo star has received even more backlash and negative messages about the video and her parenting. One especially harsh message read, “Take the baby away from her, truly unfit to be a mother.”
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The critical comments have prompted Erin and her team to issue an additional statement to Us. “The majority of the online community has been so amazing in defending Erin and she has been heart-warmed by how many moms have come to her defense,” Erin’s rep Jeffrey Chassen exclusively told Us on Tuesday. “What is really unfortunate is how the clickbait community has taken the opportunity to bash a [new] mom in the first weeks after giving birth for holding her child in a completely normal and safe manner.”
Chassen noted that Erin’s time as a Real Housewife has prepared her to deal with online haters, but this time it’s gone too far. “Erin has become used to online criticism since being on RHONY, and certainly has thick skin about it, but this has crossed a line that is unacceptable, and quite frankly dangerous,” he continued.
Cassen told Us, “The mom shaming around this video is unacceptable to a point that we have to say something. Erin is an incredible mother of four children, and every one of them is thriving. Not once have her parenting skills or prowess ever been questioned.”
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The rep noted that Erin does “appreciate the well wishes from most fans,” but the negativity must be addressed.
“We do not need, nor welcome, the armchair commentary about her newborn baby, sleeping safely in the crook of her elbow, and we find it incredibly offensive that anyone would tie it to her having a drink of alcohol,” the statement read. “A woman can, in fact, safely and responsibly have a drink while holding her baby and there is nothing shameful about that. We’ve had enough.”
In addition to their newborn, Erin and Abe share sons Levi, 9, and Elijah, 4, and daughter Layla, 7. The couple, who tied the knot in 2012, have given fans a glimpse at their lives since October 2022, when Erin joined the cast of the rebooted RHONY.
