Emily Ratajkowski has ignited a storm of criticism after sharing photos where she is topless, holding a glass of sparkling wine, and breastfeeding a plastic baby doll. Critics have accused her of promoting reckless behavior and using motherhood as a shocking publicity move.
RadarOnline.com reports that the 35-year-old model, author, and actress posted these images to her 27.9 million Instagram followers as part of a campaign for her latest essay titled MotherFââ, which is available online.
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Photos Spark Instant Backlash
Ratajkowski shared the controversial images on Instagram.
The images, which included a âloverâ in boxer shorts visible through a window as she held the doll, quickly sparked online debate.
Some supporters applauded Ratajkowski for challenging traditional views of motherhood and female sexuality, while critics felt the imagery was inappropriate, mixing alcohol, parenting, and sexualized elements.
The controversy erupted soon after the images were posted, generating thousands of comments and reviving discussions about Ratajkowskiâs use of provocative imagery in promoting her work.
A source close to the model stated: âEmily is well aware of how modern media functions. She knows these images will provoke outrage, but she also believes they initiate important conversations about motherhood, sexuality, and societal judgments of women. The criticism was never going to deter her from sharing them.â
An insider in the fashion industry commented: âThe backlash largely revolves around the combination of the wine glass and motherhood imagery. Some interpret it as artistic, while others see it as sending the wrong message. Essentially, she is being criticized for normalizing the concept of a single mother drinking. Furthermore, mothers are advised against drinking while breastfeeding, which has intensified the controversy surrounding these images.â
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Critics Slam Provocative Imagery
Supporters praised Ratajkowski for challenging perceptions.
Comments poured in online, with one user calling the images âgenuinely disturbing,â while another questioned if the photos were artistic or just seeking attention.
Ratajkowski explored themes of motherhood, divorce, and dating in the essay accompanying the photos, reflecting on life after her marriage to film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard ended following the birth of their son Sylvester.
She wrote: âIt was a violent transition into a new reality of screaming baby on my aching tâ and ring on my swollen finger.
âAnd then, in a time period that felt both instant and excruciatingly slow, my marriage collapsed. Six months after my son was born, my husband and I stopped having sex. Less than a year later, we separated.â
The essay also delved into her experiences as a single mother and her decision to explore casual dating after the separation.
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Divorce Confessions Shock Readers
Her marriage to Sebastian Bear-McClard collapsed.
Ratajkowski reflected on her evolving views on relationships and sexuality, noting that many beliefs she once held proved incorrect.
In discussing her behavior after her divorce, she stated: âI decided to fâ my way into a new kind of woman. I wanted to destroy the Madonna, the special girl Iâd worked so hard to be before an eight-pound baby had torn my vagina in two, and replace her with the whore.â
She also asserted that âmen are turned on by motherhood.â
Ratajkowski added: âIâd been so scared that, as a single mother, I was unlovable, used up and discarded. I soon came to find out it was quite the opposite of âthey donât care.â
âIn fact, they liked it. There were many men who experienced the loneliness that comes with years of selfishness. They were particularly attracted to the idea that being a parent meant self-sacrifice was a given in my life. Did they want me as their mummy? Maybe.â
A source familiar with reactions to the essay noted: âEmily is revealing parts of her life that many public figures would typically keep private. Some readers find her honesty refreshing, while others feel uncomfortable. This divide is precisely why her writing attracts so much attention.â
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Emily Refuses to Back Down
The model embraced casual dating after her separation.
Ratajkowski gained international recognition after appearing in Robin Thickeâs controversial 2013 music video for âBlurred Lines.â
Since then, she has established a career in modeling, acting, writing, and business, including launching the swimwear brand Inamorata and publishing the bestselling memoir My Body in 2021.
Throughout her career, she has consistently defended womenâs right to control how they present their bodies and sexuality.
A longtime friend noted: âEmily has argued for years that women should have the freedom to express their sexuality however they choose. She is aware of the criticism but is not interested in making everyone comfortable.â
Regarding her choice to pose nude, Ratajkowski has stated: âWhen a woman is naked, itâs not automatically anti-feminist.
âI have no apologies for it, and Iâm not ashamed at all.â

