Television personality Sam Faiers recently found herself at the center of a "mum-shaming" controversy following an episode of her new ITVX reality show, "Sam & Billie: Sister Act." The series, which offers a candid look into the lives of Sam and her sister Billie, captured a challenging moment during a family lunch that sparked a wide range of public reactions regarding parenting styles.

During a restaurant outing with her seven-year-old daughter Rosie and two-year-old son Edward, Sam was seen struggling to manage Edward's defiant behavior. As they waited for their meal, Sam described her son as a "ticking time bomb." Once the food arrived, Edward began throwing chips at his sister Rosie, who sat quietly. Sam attempted to intervene, saying, "Oi, oi! Excuse me!" and later, responding to a perceived comment from a member of the public, admitted, "I told him not to do it, but he's not listening to me." She warned him that they might be asked to leave. Following his lunch, Edward continued to cause disruption, getting down from the table to clamber on the floor, wandering around the restaurant, and even finding a sticky lip gloss in Sam's bag, which she had to retrieve from him. Despite Sam's pleas for him to "stand up" and "come and sit down," Edward remained uncooperative, prompting her to eventually declare, "I think it's time to cut our losses and get out of here."

Reflecting on the situation in a piece to the camera, Sam candidly stated, "Let's be honest, there's no such thing as a peaceful lunch when you've got a two-year-old there." Her observations highlighted the universal challenges many parents face with toddlers in public settings, a sentiment that resonated with some viewers while drawing criticism from others.

The clip, shared on TikTok, quickly filled with comments from viewers who criticized Sam's parenting approach. Many accused her of having "no control" over her children, with some commenters stating, "Zero punishment or consequences for bad behaviour in all of these kids – wet lettuce parenting" and "very poor parenting." Others argued that "gentle parenting doesn’t work!" and that Edward needed "the complete opposite," demanding "more boundaries and discipline" from Sam. The criticisms extended to comparing her parenting to that of her sister Billie, suggesting a shared lack of control over their children.

However, Sam also found a strong contingent of defenders who empathized with her predicament. Supporters argued that such behavior is typical for a two-year-old experiencing the "terrible twos," with one user stating, "Anyone else think that there’s nothing abnormal here??? It’s not going to be picture perfect! He’s tried and bored! Give the kids a break!" Many pointed out the added pressure of being filmed, with a comment noting, "Everyone’s kids have been like this – the only difference is we haven’t been filmed." These defenders urged others to "leave her alone," acknowledging the stress of parenting a toddler in public.

This incident is not the first time Sam Faiers has faced public scrutiny over her parenting decisions. She previously sparked controversy for revealing that she does not apply sun cream to her children during their holidays abroad, indicating a history of public commentary on her family life.