Mom Says She Was Ejected From Restaurant for Breastfeeding — Hopes Viral Video Spurs Empathy and Awareness

Aris Smith Kopiec says a family outing in Blue Ridge, Georgia, turned confrontational when she was asked to leave Toccoa Riverside Restaurant after breastfeeding her 4-month-old. The encounter, recorded and shared on Instagram, has drawn thousands of views and renewed conversation about public breastfeeding rights and public attitudes toward nursing parents.

What Happened

Smith Kopiec, who was visiting with her husband and their three children (ages 4 months, 2 and 4), says they were seated with family friends on the restaurant's enclosed porch during a November weekend. She describes the children as well behaved — coloring, playing with stickers and stringing beads — when her youngest grew fussy.

"My husband handed her to me, and I latched her on," Smith Kopiec told PEOPLE. He also gave her a blanket to use as a cover; she says she was seated with her back to the rest of the dining area. After a short time the baby fell asleep and Smith Kopiec continued to hold her but was no longer actively nursing.

Shyla Keiper with Shyla Shoots PhotographyAris Smith Kopiec and her family

As she and a friend stepped outside with the children to look at the river, she says she accidentally bumped a chair or person and turned to apologize. At that moment, she alleges, the restaurant owner approached and began shouting that breastfeeding was not allowed and that she should "go to the corner." She says he briefly blocked a side door while they tried to leave.

"I told him I was not actively breastfeeding at that moment, but he continued yelling that breastfeeding was not allowed and that he needed to 'protect his restaurant,'" Smith Kopiec said.

Confrontation and Aftermath

Outside, the family realized the dispute was explicitly about breastfeeding. While the group collected belongings, Smith Kopiec says another restaurant employee approached the husbands to apologize. As they prepared to leave through the front entrance, she says she calmly told the owner that Georgia law allows mothers to breastfeed in any location where they are otherwise authorized to be. Smith Kopiec says the owner grew more aggressive and insisted he did not have to allow breastfeeding.

Smith Kopiec recorded part of the encounter and posted the video to Instagram on Nov. 23; the clip has received more than 14,000 likes. She says she felt shocked and vulnerable during the incident and that her first priority was to protect her children and remove them from a potentially unsafe situation.

Shyla Keiper with Shyla Shoots PhotographyAris Smith Kopiec and family

Legal Context and Public Reaction

Georgia law states that "a mother may breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be." The statute does not, however, specify penalties for businesses that violate the provision, which can leave enforcement and public understanding inconsistent.

After posting the video, Smith Kopiec said the online response was overwhelmingly supportive, but she was surprised by how many commenters expressed discomfort with breastfeeding even when it is done discreetly and legally. She says her purpose in sharing the footage was not to shame anyone but to educate parents, business owners and law enforcement about what breastfeeding looks like in real life and how to respond lawfully and respectfully.

Why She Shared the Video

"If this helps even one parent feel more confident feeding their baby or standing up for themselves, then something meaningful came out of a really uncomfortable experience," Smith Kopiec said. She hopes the video promotes greater empathy and better public understanding of breastfeeding rights.

Photo credit: Shyla Keiper with Shyla Shoots Photography