‘We are sincerely sorry: Millie Mackintosh announces she will be renaming her Mama’s Milk podcast after being accused of copying breastfeeding Instagram account
Millie Mackintosh has announced she is renaming her podcast after being accused of copying the name from a popular breastfeeding support Instagram page.
The former Made In Chelsea star was accused of failing to do her due diligence and copying the name Mama’s Milk for her new parenting podcast.
Millie, who is mum to Sienna, two, and six-month-old Aurelia, launched her podcast this week alongside her close friend Charlie Bound, who is also a mother of two but just days after the launch she was forced to apologise for her choice of name.
Change of plan: Millie Mackintosh has announced she is renaming her podcast after being accused of copying the name from a popular breastfeeding support Instagram page
Emily who runs Instagram page and retail brand mamas.milk had criticised Millie and her company for using her name, admitting ‘it’s a kick in the teeth’ after four years of hard work.
Posting an update on Thursday afternoon, Millie told her Instagram followers: ‘After many conversations with my team in the last 24 hours, I have decided to change the name of our podcast.’
‘I never intended to copy or take a free ride off anyone else’s name and hard work and although legally – after undertaking trade mark checks – we may be entitled to use it, morally it just isn’t the right thing to do.’
Established business: The former Made In Chelsea star was accused of failing to do her due diligence and copying the name Mama’s Milk for her new parenting podcast, a name currently in use by Emily of the mamas.milk Instagram page and website
Listening: Posting an update on Thursday,, Millie told her followers: ‘After many conversations with my team in the last 24 hours, I have decided to change the name of our podcast’
Sorry:’ I would not feel comfortable moving forward with the current name knowing the upset it has caused and we are sincerely sorry for that,’ Millie wrote
Explaining how she and her team came up with the name, she continued: ‘For those of you who have listened to our podcast Mama’s Milk you will know that the name stemmed from us ‘spilling the milk’ and chatting all things love, life and little ones.’
‘However, we have a duty of care to our listeners and other brands to not cause confusion around use of names. I would not feel comfortable moving forward with the current name knowing the upset it has caused and we are sincerely sorry for that.’
Millie ended her post titled ‘we have heard you and change is coming’ by writing: ‘We will be rebranding and will keep you updated. Wishing you all a wonderful bank holiday weekend.’
Criticism: Millie was accused of failing to do her due diligence and copying the popular Instagram page’s brand name for her new parenting podcast
As stated on her website, Emily is a mum of one who first started voluntarily supporting other women on their breastfeeding journeys in 2019 after experiencing her own issues with feeding.
‘On my personal Instagram page I started running a weekly Q&A every Monday about all things breastfeeding; using the hashtag #mamasmilkmonday.
This started to snowball and I have since set up a new instagram page specifically for Mama’s Milk (@mamas.milk) where I now continue to run this weekly Q&A as well as posting informative and helpful hints, hacks, tips and facts.’
Thank you: Emily of mamas.milk reposted Millie’s message and thanked her for making the change in name
Emily later branched out into retail and now sells breastfeeding accessories on her Mama’s Milk website.
Posting on Wednesday, Emily told her 18.8k followers that she had ‘been inundated with messages about this over the past few days.’
Sharing Millie’s podcast announcement, Emily continued: ‘So just to clarify THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!! It’s just my business and brand name.’
‘I am qualified in my field and I am absolutely NOT associated with anything said in these podcasts. Discussions surround sleep training, breastfeeding, formula feeding etc are absolutely nothing to with me, have not come from me and are not affiliated with me in any way at all.’
‘I find it highly unbelievable that @milliemackintosh and her team wouldn’t do their research first before using someone else brand name. ‘
‘Also highly suspicious that there have been comments of support for my business posted on this post – NOT at my request – some comments have now suddenly disappeared.’
Speaking in further Stories, the breastfeeding expert admitted: ‘I do feel quite sad because I’ve worked so hard… My initial worry was that they would confuse the two of us and they have.’
‘The second thing is I really have spent thousands of pounds and worked far too hard to be associated with any incorrect information.’
Confusion: Posting on Wednesday, Emily told her 18.8k followers that she had ‘been inundated with messages about this over the past few days’
Explaining how she had listened to the first episode of Millie’s podcast, Emily admitted ‘it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth because it’s a mum chat thing,’ pointing out that she would never recommend mums turn to online forums such as Mumsnet for advice – something Millie and Charlie recommend.
On Wednesday night Millie addressed the criticism, sharing a lengthy post in which she insisted she and her partners had ‘done our due diligence’.
‘After much discussion with the team today I wanted to address some of the feedback and comments re our new project name,’ Millie wrote.
‘Firstly, we are huge supporters of any businesses or persons who support communities, parents and little ones through their journey.’
‘I’m a bit sad’: ‘I am qualified in my field and I am absolutely NOT associated with anything said in these podcasts,’ Emily, who started voluntarily supporting other women on their breastfeeding journeys in 2019, told her followers on Wednesday
Addressing Emily’s claims that the podcast offers unqualified advice, Millie continued: ‘The title of our Podcast was selected for live medium and as we state on each episode, there are our personal stories and experiences, we are not experts, hence why we include guest specialists should topics require.’
‘It would never be out intension to infringe on someone else’s hard work and contribution to mothers, especially an incredible breastfeeding expert such as Mamas.Milk we only applaud, value and support anyone who normalises and destigmatises this journey.’
‘Please know that due diligence was carried out to ensure that Mama’s Milk was available in the spaces in which it was launched with no intension or crossing over into the specialised field of breastfeeding advise or breastfeeding products.’
Supporting small businesses: Emily’s supporters flooded Millie’s podcast announcement post with comments urging her to change the name of her new venture
‘Our aim is to create a community of everyone by sharing our personal experiences, encouraging you to share with us, and also partnering with trusted experts on the show so we can all share and have access to wider advice.’
‘What I love most about the parenting community is the support and loyalty continually shown to others and that is exactly what you have shown today.’
She ended the post by telling her followers that ‘hopefully we can all find a space in order to collectively work towards the same goal. To reach as far and wide as possible creating a safe space and help normalise conversations and worries for everyone.’
Speaking to MailOnline, Emily said she was ‘disappointed’ with Millie’s response.
‘I think mainly I’m just so disappointed,’ she said. ‘Disappointed that she’s done it in the first place and disappointed in her response and refusal to change the name. ‘
‘I’m clearly not the only person who thinks what she’s doing is wrong as has been evident in the comments on her post.’
Representatives for Millie have been contacted by MailOnline for further comment.
Millie launched her podcast on Monday and revealed she will use the platform to talk for the first time about her battle with depression.
The podcast will cover ‘sensitive and intermate topics’ as the mums and experts answer some of the public’s questions.
Speaking out: On Wednesday night Millie addressed the criticism, sharing a lengthy post in which she insisted she and her partners had ‘done our due diligence’
She revealed that some ‘seriously personal LOL stories and moments, that I’ve only, just recently, felt brave enough to share’ will be discussed.
In short cut away shots during the promo video, the star can be heard speaking of her highs and lows.
She said: ‘I can’t believe I just admitted that,’ and in another, ‘I had a real low point actually, I’m not even sure I want to say this.’
Millie later added while wiping a tear from her eye: ‘I got really depressed. And I feel really emotional.’
She penned alongside the clip: ‘NEWS FLASH – I’ve been keeping a HUGE secret! No NOT that kind….. I’m launching my very own podcast with my bestie!
Mum life: The mother-of-two, 32, will be ‘spilling all “the milk” on life, love and little ones’ alongside Charlie, also a mum-of-two on the weekly podcast
‘Mama’s Milk will be us spilling all ‘the milk’ (get it?) on life, love and little ones. Of course, I wanted you all along for the ride, so my secret call outs asking you to send any questions / Mumlemmas to us on @basementchats has meant that some of you have really contributed to our first Season!’
She added: ‘Throughout this first season we will be joined by some incredible guests and experts, who will be answering some of your stories and questions, along with some seriously personal LOL stories and moments, that I’ve only, just recently, felt brave enough to share.
‘To kick the season off, we’re launching with not 1 but TWO special episodes for you to binge on, going LIVE June 1st!. We hope you enjoy listening, as much as we did making it!’
Millie is married to Hugo Taylor who she met on the set of E4’s long-running reality show Made In Chelsea and are approaching their fourth anniversary.
The big reveal: The former Made In Chelsea star seemed in high spirits in a promotion video alongside her bestie Charlie Bound released this week
Emily posted her own message of thanks to her supporters on Tuesday after being tagged in a string of comments shared on Millie’s Instagram, accusing the ex reality star of stealing the Mama’s Milk name.
‘Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to all those of you who have supported me over the years. Whether you’re new here or have been with me since the beginning, thank you,’ Emily wrote.
‘From volunteering my time and creating the Mama’s Milk community back in 2018, launching the #mamasmilkmonday hashtag in 2019, through all my education and continuous learning and qualifications (still ongoing – The eternal student!)’
‘Being there to help me bounce ideas between you, helping me with market research and branding. Through to officially launching Mama’s Milk the brand (rather than just me the person) in 2020, and for helping to build the brand from the ground up and making it what it is today.’
To my day ones, my ride or dies, if you’re new here and everyone in between; Thank you, thank you, thank you.’
Millie married her former Made In Chelsea co-star Hugo Taylor who share two daughters together Sienna, two, and six-month-old Aurelia
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