Kelly Stafford has a message for those Instagram know-it-alls.
On her podcast, “The Morning After Kelly Stafford,” the wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford became emotional while discussing the criticism she receives on social media.
“It sucks being a parent right now when there’s so much pressure,” the mother of four said. “You have to do it perfectly, or else someone’s going to say something.”
With her mother, Leslie Hall, on the show, Stafford scolded social media users who shame celebrity parents online.
“It’s called mom shaming,” the 32-year-old said.
Celebrity moms like Kristin Cavallari and Amy Schumer have dealt with this specific social media mob, asking followers to mind their own business.
Stafford recalled two online situations that she felt went too far.
“I came out and said I used formula with my last one because I was miserable trying to pump and take care of kids, and I got crushed for it,” she said.
A few years ago, viewers slammed the model and actress for incorrectly buckling her child’s car seat.
“We weren’t even leaving and someone was like, ‘they’re not buckled in right, you need to tighten the clip,’” she said. “It was like, woah, ok, I get that, but we just weren’t even pulling out of our neighborhood.”
Hall compared the experience to her own as a parent in a world before everyone shared everything on social media.
“We didn’t have to deal with any of that because we didn’t have social media, so nobody was judging us or watching us,” she explained.
Stafford acknowledged the pros and cons of being a celebrity mom online. “
We have so much knowledge now about our kids’ wellbeing and things like that, which is great, but I also sometimes think ignorance is bliss,” she said. “I think the pressure on parents right now to do everything perfectly is insane.”
Kelly and Matthew moved to Los Angeles from Detroit following a blockbuster trade between the Lions and Rams this past offseason.