A mother has claimed she was left feeling "humiliated" after alleging she was asked to leave a Texas restaurant for breastfeeding her five-month-old son. Aura McCullough stated that staff at Nowhere Bar in Celina "ruined" her family's first Father's Day celebration when they asked her, her husband, and their child to depart because she had exposed her breasts for "long periods of time."
However, one of the restaurant's owners denied that the establishment prohibits breastfeeding and suggested the situation was a result of "miscommunication." The owner stated that the incident involved a "young employee" who felt uncomfortable and sought a manager's assistance, which led to the escalation. "From there, a miscommunication occurred and escalated beyond what anyone intended," the owner said.
McCullough recounted in a video that a staff member approached her table and instructed her to cover herself while nursing. When McCullough refused and asked if another customer had complained, she was allegedly told the employee she was speaking with was the manager. The restaurant has denied McCullough's claim that they monitored her via security cameras. Following this interaction, McCullough stated she canceled her food order and requested the bill. She further alleged that the employee then informed her the bill would be paid by the owner, but the family had to leave.
"That was extremely humiliating and demoralizing," McCullough stated, adding, "They ruined my family's first Father's Day, and they shamed a mother for trying to feed her baby." She also claimed the owner misrepresented her removal, stating she was asked to leave for exposing her breasts rather than for breastfeeding. "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," McCullough said.
In response, Nowhere Bar released a video addressing McCullough's claims, emphasizing that breastfeeding is permitted on the premises. "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 stated. "As a mother who breastfed two boys in public, I mean it when I say that breastfeeding mothers are very welcome in Nowhere."
The co-owner suggested that restaurant staff acted in good faith, acknowledging that both parties have "different perspectives on what happened." While denying McCullough's account in their social media response, Nowhere Bar did offer an apology. "Creating an experience like this for any guest is never our intention. We're deeply sorry," the owner said, concluding, "We hope we can all move forward with a little bit of grace and understanding."
The incident prompted significant discussion on social media regarding breastfeeding etiquette in public. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 165 stipulates that a mother is legally permitted to breastfeed or express milk in any location where she is otherwise allowed to be.