All the Times Coco Austin and Ice-T Have Clapped Back at the Parenting Police

Credit: Birdie Thompson/SIPA/Shutterstock

All the Times Coco Austin and Ice-T Have Clapped Back at the Parenting Police

No time for haters. Coco Austin and Ice-T have sparked backlash for their parenting choices numerous times — and they’re never shy about defending themselves from the trolls. The couple, who wed in 2002, welcomed their daughter, Chanel, in 2015. Ice-T is also the father of two children from prior relationships: Letesha, born in 1976, whom he shares with his high school girlfriend Adrienne, and Tracy Jr., born in 1991, whom he shares with Darlene Ortiz. Austin and Ice-T had wanted a baby for a while by the time Chanel was born. During a 2012 episode of their reality show Ice Loves Coco, the glamour model cried after learning her blood pressure was too high to safely conceive. But after getting her health under control, Austin announced her pregnancy via Twitter in 2015. Shortly after Chanel was born in November of that year, the Law and Order: SVU actor talked about his baby girl on his podcast, “Ice T: Final Level.” “We’re just proud parents and [nowadays] you can put it all on the net for everybody to see. We’ve had all this response, as much as there’s haters out there, 99.99 percent are nothing but love,” the rapper said at the time. [jwplayer Ppg5OX2Y-zhNYySv2] He continued, “At this point, I didn’t really know what was going to make me excited. Like, another hit record? No. Another show? No.I’ve been really fortunate but this was something that really made me say, ‘Wow.’ It’s a beautiful thing.” Austin reacted to the emotional episode via Twitter in December 2015. “When I listened to Ice’s podcast on Chanel I actually teared up to hear him talk about her,” she wrote at the time. “He is such a proud father. I couldn’t ask 4 better.” Fans have often been quick to point out how much the New Jersey native’s little girl resembles him. After one particular photo of Chanel made headlines in July 2021, Austin told Us Weekly, “It was weird because I post so many pictures and that particular one kind of went viral. That was strange to me. She’s looked like her daddy since day one. [She was] coming out of the womb looking like him. And now [people] are just noticing after five years? Like, that’s so weird to me.” The actress added that personality-wise, Chanel is more like her. “She gets on the stage and she rocks on [like Ice-T], but then she, like, has a modeling side too,” she told Us. “She has a lot of personality. She tries to act like me. I don’t allow her to do all the poses though. … We like just the cutesy ones.” Despite their love for their daughter, Coco and Ice-T have often found themselves in the line of fire of the parenting police. Scroll through for a look at all the times the Ice Loves Coco alums have clapped back at the haters: [podcast_block]

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Swimsuit Savagery

Austin has been criticized for posting photos of herself in a swimsuit on the social media page she created for Chanel, @babychanelnicole.

In June 2017, the Desert Rose actress shared photos via Instagram of her and Chanel posing in matching orange bathing suits. One Instagram user commented, “I love seeing this cute little baby. But why do I always have to see her mom’s ass and t—ties too?” Another agreed, writing, "Why post a pic of your ass on the baby’s page?”

Austin set the record straight in the comments, explaining why she had decided to include her backside in the post. “People always ask to see what the back of the bottoms look like. I post this to help boutiques that send packages to me. They always want to see a frontal and back," she wrote.

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Breast-Feeding Backlash

In August 2021, Austin exclusively revealed to Us that she was still breast-feeding Chanel, then 5. “It’s a big bonding moment for a mother and your child,” the social media personality said at the time. “[She] likes a little snack every now and again. … Why take that away from her? If she doesn’t want it, all right, that’s where you stop it. But I’m not just going to say no.”

After Austin received backlash for her comments, Ice-T came to his wife’s defense on Twitter. "News Flash! We feed Chanel FOOD ... She just likes to suck moms [sic] boob every now and then,” the actor wrote, adding, "Me Too!!!"

Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/Shutterstock

Manicure Moment

In September 2021, Austin shared photos via Instagram of Chanel’s nails done nicely for school picture day.

“For the special occasion, I let Chanel do mini tips to her nails,” she explained in the caption. Some of the actress’ followers didn’t find the manicure age-appropriate.

“Too young for nails!” one Instagram user wrote, while another commented, “Why she got tips but still breast-feed is she a baby or a young woman?”

During an appearance on The View the following month, Ice-T was asked about how he reacted to the backlash.

“Rule one on the internet: Do not pay attention to anything anyone says on the internet,” he said. “Worry about the people that walk up to you and say things in your real life. Those are the people you should be concerned with. The internet is the world. It’s the world talking, so I don’t pay attention.”

The musician assured viewers that his daughter was “loved” and stated, “Everybody parents differently.”

Credit: Birdie Thompson/SIPA/Shutterstock

Stroller Scandal

In May 2022, Austin shared a photo of her, Ice-T and Chanel enjoying a day of shopping in the Bahamas via Instagram. “Chanel is so over it unless theres something cool to see .. Her face transitions instantly,” the California native wrote in the caption.

Some followers were quick to ask why then-6-year-old Chanel was in a stroller in the photo. “I know she may be your last baby but you have to let her grow up. If anything a wagon is more her age! I have a 6 year old smaller than her and she hasn’t been in a stroller in years 😂 I would hate for your sweet baby to get bullied or something,” one follower wrote. Another chimed in, “Isn't she like 6 yrs old! Should she be out of a stroller by now?!"

After CNN covered the fan criticism, Ice-T addressed the incident via Twitter. ”Lol… CNN? Really?" he wrote. "MFs ain't got s--t else to talk about.. F em all. Smh. Lol."

Austin also responded via Twitter. "Oh lord!! Really people?" she wrote. "The world loves to criticize [literally] everything i do!"

Credit: Courtesy of Coco Austin/Instagram

Bathtime Backlash

After Austin shared a glimpse of how she got Chanel, then 6, washed up in the kitchen sink before a September 2020 event — which she called "the easiest" option when in a time crunch — the parenting police came out in full swing. "Wow just Wow! Here we go again!" the model tweeted amid the confused responses. "Giving my lil girl a bath in the sink went Viral? SMH! People, you gotta know by now that I'm an unconventional mother. I do what works and is easier on me. Some may want to take some pointers rather than rag on me!"

Credit: Photo Image Press/Shutterstock; Coco Austin/TikTok

Twerking Video

In December 2022, Austin clapped back after trolls called her out for letting a then 7-year-old Chanel twerk in a Christmas clip. “She loves to joke,” the actress wrote alongside the video, noting that her daughter was channeling Tina Belcher from Bob’s Burgers. "[Chanel wanted] to bust a move and make [us] laugh.”