Olivia Munn Divides Internet After Letting Her Toddler Son Walk Streets Of NYC Shoeless

Actress Olivia Munn has divided the internet over her decision to allow her toddler son to walk the streets of New York City without shoes on.

The “Your Friends & Neighbors” star, who is married to comedian John Mulaney, discussed the incident in a lengthy Instagram post accompanied by a photo.

“Yes, this is my 3-year-old walking through the streets of New York in only his socks,” she wrote in the post shared last week.

 

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“I’m posting this for all the parents who thought it would be great to take advantage of the beautiful weather and took their toddler on a walk only for them to lie down screaming on the floor of Whole Foods, run through the aisles of CVS screaming ‘I don’t like anyone!!’ and knocked over your iced tea before your first sip, all while carrying your 7-month-old strapped to your body,” Munn continued.

“After all of that, he insisted on walking home without his shoes,” she wriote. “And in a moment which I can only describe as total exhaustion, I said okay. So we walked over a mile home with only socks… through every street in NY.”

The actress concluded, “This Easter Monday will live in infamy in my memory as the day I tried my absolute best, got us home without another tantrum and learned that the rubber padding on toddler socks can only take so much. Cheers to anyone else who went through this today or any other day. You have my utmost respect.”

The post led to a ton of both positive and negative comments, with some parents expressing their disgust and horror at letting a young child do something so dangerous. Others stood up in solidarity with Munn and shared toddler tantrum stories of their own.

“But you make it sound like you were alone dealing with this situation — so who was on hand to take the photo? Sort of detracts from the entire story if you had another set of hands to help the entire time,” one commenter noted.

“Who is taking your photo but not helping you?!” another person echoed.

“Letting your child be exposed to disgusting dirt and whatever else is on their streets including sharp objects… really stupid idea,” said a third.

Another wrote, “THAT is why gentle parenting tactics are garbage. At some point it’s time to lay down the law. Who is parenting whom?”

“I’ve been there. Children really know how to help us evolve,” another person replied.

“Love this post ! We have ALL BEEN THERE ! Congratulations for keeping your sanity and making home !!!” another said.

“Someone get this woman a ‘good mom’ bracelet,” said another commenter.

Munn addressed the incident again this week at an event. “Oh my gosh, the other day, I was walking on that same street and I ran into some women who wanted to say ‘Hi’ to my little baby,” Munn told People while attending An Unforgettable Evening Benefiting the Women’s Cancer Research Fund in Los Angeles on Monday.

“And I just started crying. I was like, it’s just so hard. And they were very sweet,” she said.

Munn and Mulaney have a 3-year-old son, Malcolm, and a 7-month-old daughter, Méi June.