Teresa Giudice received an avalanche of backlash over daughter Audriana’s belly-baring ensemble worn for her ninth birthday party.
In a photo, first shared Sunday on Instagram, the birthday girl poses next to the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star, wearing a black top exposing her navel, and what appears to be makeup. Some of Giudice’s 1.3 million followers were quick to chastise her parenting in the comments section.
“Makeup on a 9 year old! Come on! Just a tad bit young for this much older look!” one user griped.
“Am I the only one creeped out that she’s obsessed with making her little girls look like grown women? Something is NOT right there,” penned another.
One commenter also slammed the mother of four for not using her time in prison wisely.
“This is disgusting, and wrong,” the comment began. “This is a crazy world as it is, and you’re not keeping her safe feeding her to the world like this. It’s not fair this innocent child is learning how to sexualize herself, because you’re teaching her that her physical appearance is how to get validation from others like you. Would have thought you’d have more time to think about life and it’s consequences in jail.”
After pleading guilty to federal fraud charges, Giudice, 46, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison while husband Joe was sentenced to 41 months. The cookbook author surrendered herself to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn., in January 2015. She was released that December, two months ahead of her scheduled February 2016 release. Her spouse currently is behind bars at New Jersey’s Fort Dix Correctional Institution.
Though Giudice has yet to respond to the controversy, she did post additional photos from Audriana’s party on social media Tuesday. Some loyal followers fired back at critics on her behalf.
“I do not see anything wrong with that top and maybe she is wearing makeup because [it’s] her birthday,” shared one follower.
Giudice and Joe are also parents to daughters Gia, 17, Gabriella, 14, and Milania, 13.
Reps for Giudice did not immediately return requests for comment.