The sick criticisms of Paris Hilton's baby are yet another example of women not being able to win at motherhood

Paris Hilton has been subjected to online bullying of a very specific kind – critics have attacked her baby's appearance, as well as making disparaging comments about her ability to be a mother.

We won't delve too deeply into the distasteful words posted about baby Phoenix, who was born via surrogate back in January to Paris and her husband Carter Reum, who have been married since 2021. Some have made comments about the size of baby Phoenix's head – likening him to a certain character in Family Guy – and also making suggestions as to what health risks this might point to.

These comments came after Paris posted a series of adorable pictures of Phoenix's first trip to New York. Others made completely unwarranted judgments about Paris and her role as a mother, one one writing that she “doesn't seem like the motherly type at all”. Another posted: “you can tell that baby has been held more by other people who are paid just to do that”, adding that “I don't think I've seen a photo of her snuggling that baby”.

Paris responded to this vitriol via a comment on her own post: "There are some sick people in this world. My angel is perfectly healthy. And yes, of course he has been to a doctor, he just has a large brain."

These criticisms are yet another example of women, and mothers, not being able to win when it comes to their perceived role as a parent. If she'd not posted any pictures of her child – which she is completely justified in not doing, if she doesn't want to – she'd predictably have been slated for it. If she does, like in this case, she's not doing it right – not snuggling enough, not taking her child's health (or looks, bafflingly) seriously enough.

Why is it seen as OK for complete strangers to question a public figure's experience of motherhood in this way? What gives us the right to pass judgment on elements of someone's private life, not to mention their child's, when we don't know anything about it? A few posts on Instagram does not give us the justification, or the data, necessary to make these harsh and hurtful comments.

TikTokkers have hit back at these comments as well, with one captioning a video discussing the issue: “Dude if you’re bullying babies you should be getting your head checked”.

“So now people have moved on to bullying a baby," @stephwithdadeets said. "A baby that probably gets some of the best healthcare ever. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Paris Hilton has probably got her baby checked for any and everything.

“The word we live in has gotten sad – leave Phoenix alone.”