Nursing Mother Claims Restaurant Owner Confronted Her Despite Legal Protections

A Florida mother, Aris Kopiec, recently shared a distressing experience at the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge, Georgia. She claims that a man, whom she believed to be the restaurant owner, yelled at her and ordered her to leave after she breastfed her infant. This incident, which Kopiec recorded on her cellphone, shows the man shouting, “Get on out of here!”

The confrontation occurred while Kopiec was dining with her husband, three young daughters—ages 4, 2, and 4 months—and family friends. When her baby began to cry, she quickly latched her infant and covered herself to ensure she was discreetly feeding her child.

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The Kopiec family dined at the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant together with friends before the viral video incident happened. (Courtesy of Shyla Shoots / Fox News)

“The only people who could see me were at my table,” she explained. “I covered myself immediately.” However, as she prepared to take her older children outside, she accidentally bumped into a chair or another guest. This is when the restaurant’s owner approached her, stating, “You can’t do that here.” At that moment, she was not even breastfeeding; she was simply holding her baby.

Despite her attempts to explain, Kopiec said the owner insisted, “I have to protect my restaurant. You need to go to a corner.”

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A mother says she recorded a Georgia restaurant’s owner shouting at her after she breastfed her child. (@ariskopes via Instagram / Fox News)

After the incident, Kopiec and her friend took the older children outside while their husbands settled the bill. Although the staff apologized to the men, they did not extend the same courtesy to her. When she returned to gather her belongings, the confrontation escalated further. She calmly informed the owner that Georgia law protects breastfeeding in public places.

“If he wanted to protect his restaurant, he should follow the law,” she asserted, which prompted the man to become increasingly agitated.

After the owner refused to provide his name, Kopiec began recording the encounter. In the video, the man can be seen shouting, “Get on out of here!” as she holds her infant. “It was so aggressive,” she recalled. “I knew I had to get my kids out of there.”

Feeling shaken, Kopiec reflected, “Honestly, I felt like I was in the wrong. My instinct was to apologize. But then I reminded myself—women have a legal right to breastfeed. I did nothing wrong.”

Public records confirm that Tim Richter, 67, is the owner of Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. In a phone call with FOX Business, a man who identified himself as the owner defended the business, claiming, “I’ve had the restaurant for thirty-three years. We’ve been breastfeeding for thirty-three years,” and suggested that the incident had been “staged for clicks.”

Toccoa Riverside Restaurant did not provide any further comment.

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Aris Kopiec said she never felt so “belittled” as when the man she believes to be the owner of Toccoa Riverside Restaurant yelled at her for feeding her baby. (Courtesy of Shyla Shoots / Fox News)

Georgia law explicitly states that a mother may breastfeed “in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be,” ensuring that nursing mothers cannot be removed or restricted for feeding their children.

Etiquette expert Alison Cheperdak commented on the incident, stating that it raises serious concerns about hospitality and respect. “Breastfeeding is natural and legally protected,” she emphasized. “Hospitality is about care, not confrontation, and raising one’s voice at a guest is never acceptable.” She added that mothers owe no apologies for feeding their children, and the responsibility lies with the restaurant to treat them with respect.

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A Georgia restaurant implemented a surcharge for “adults unable to parent,” on their menu. (WAGAweb)

In 2023, local Atlanta outlets reported that Toccoa Riverside sparked controversy by introducing an “adult surcharge” for parents deemed “unable to parent,” which drew backlash from families who felt reprimanded for their children’s behavior. A FOX 5 Atlanta report revealed that parents claimed the owner had scolded their children, causing distress among young diners.

Kopiec expressed her hope that the attention surrounding her experience would lead to positive change. “Every nursing mom deserves to feel safe feeding her baby,” she stated. “We have a legal right to breastfeed, period.” She emphasized her decision to forgive the restaurant, wishing for a more welcoming environment for breastfeeding mothers.

The video of the incident continues to circulate online, sparking discussions about breastfeeding rights and the treatment of young families in public spaces.

A Florida mother, Aris Kopiec, recently shared a distressing experience at the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge, Georgia. She claims that a man, whom she believed to be the restaurant owner, yelled at her and ordered her to leave after she breastfed her infant. This incident, which Kopiec recorded on her cellphone, shows the man shouting, “Get on out of here!”

The confrontation occurred while Kopiec was dining with her husband, three young daughters—ages 4, 2, and 4 months—and family friends. When her baby began to cry, she quickly latched her infant and covered herself to ensure she was discreetly feeding her child.

‘I FELT VIOLATED’: NEW MOM ALLEGES BRITISH AIRWAYS ATTENDANT LIFTED HER NURSING COVER MID-FLIGHT

The Kopiec family dined at the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant together with friends before the viral video incident happened. (Courtesy of Shyla Shoots / Fox News)

“The only people who could see me were at my table,” she explained. “I covered myself immediately.” However, as she prepared to take her older children outside, she accidentally bumped into a chair or another guest. This is when the restaurant’s owner approached her, stating, “You can’t do that here.” At that moment, she was not even breastfeeding; she was simply holding her baby.

Despite her attempts to explain, Kopiec said the owner insisted, “I have to protect my restaurant. You need to go to a corner.”

CRACKER BARREL CEO SAYS SHE FELT LIKE SHE GOT ‘FIRED BY AMERICA’ AFTER REDESIGN BACKLASH

A mother says she recorded a Georgia restaurant’s owner shouting at her after she breastfed her child. (@ariskopes via Instagram / Fox News)

After the incident, Kopiec and her friend took the older children outside while their husbands settled the bill. Although the staff apologized to the men, they did not extend the same courtesy to her. When she returned to gather her belongings, the confrontation escalated further. She calmly informed the owner that Georgia law protects breastfeeding in public places.

“If he wanted to protect his restaurant, he should follow the law,” she asserted, which prompted the man to become increasingly agitated.

After the owner refused to provide his name, Kopiec began recording the encounter. In the video, the man can be seen shouting, “Get on out of here!” as she holds her infant. “It was so aggressive,” she recalled. “I knew I had to get my kids out of there.”

Feeling shaken, Kopiec reflected, “Honestly, I felt like I was in the wrong. My instinct was to apologize. But then I reminded myself—women have a legal right to breastfeed. I did nothing wrong.”

Public records confirm that Tim Richter, 67, is the owner of Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. In a phone call with FOX Business, a man who identified himself as the owner defended the business, claiming, “I’ve had the restaurant for thirty-three years. We’ve been breastfeeding for thirty-three years,” and suggested that the incident had been “staged for clicks.”

Toccoa Riverside Restaurant did not provide any further comment.

CAMPBELL’S FIRES EXECUTIVE ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT CALLING COMPANY’S FOOD ‘S— FOR POOR PEOPLE’ IN RECORDING

Aris Kopiec said she never felt so “belittled” as when the man she believes to be the owner of Toccoa Riverside Restaurant yelled at her for feeding her baby. (Courtesy of Shyla Shoots / Fox News)

Georgia law explicitly states that a mother may breastfeed “in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be,” ensuring that nursing mothers cannot be removed or restricted for feeding their children.

Etiquette expert Alison Cheperdak commented on the incident, stating that it raises serious concerns about hospitality and respect. “Breastfeeding is natural and legally protected,” she emphasized. “Hospitality is about care, not confrontation, and raising one’s voice at a guest is never acceptable.” She added that mothers owe no apologies for feeding their children, and the responsibility lies with the restaurant to treat them with respect.

‘REAL RELIEF’: NEW GOP PROPOSAL COULD HELP FAMILIES RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

A Georgia restaurant implemented a surcharge for “adults unable to parent,” on their menu. (WAGAweb)

In 2023, local Atlanta outlets reported that Toccoa Riverside sparked controversy by introducing an “adult surcharge” for parents deemed “unable to parent,” which drew backlash from families who felt reprimanded for their children’s behavior. A FOX 5 Atlanta report revealed that parents claimed the owner had scolded their children, causing distress among young diners.

Kopiec expressed her hope that the attention surrounding her experience would lead to positive change. “Every nursing mom deserves to feel safe feeding her baby,” she stated. “We have a legal right to breastfeed, period.” She emphasized her decision to forgive the restaurant, wishing for a more welcoming environment for breastfeeding mothers.

The video of the incident continues to circulate online, sparking discussions about breastfeeding rights and the treatment of young families in public spaces.