'We have a right to breastfeed or pump in public' - Woman says Starbucks told her to leave because she was pumping

Sara-Jayne Makwala King spoke to physical therapist, Lauren Ellis.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.

Lauren Ellis is a huge advocate for breastfeeding.

She pumps breast milk exclusively and is on a pumping schedule.

Ellis says she was asked by the staff of Starbucks in Cavendish, Cape Town to leave the store because she was pumping.

This is not the first time Ellis has pumped at Starbucks in Cavendish.

"I walked in, sat in the corner, I am always mindful of who is around me because I do understand that there is a stigma around this and I try to be respectful of others around me....I sat in the far corner right opposite where you get your drink, put my pump bag down...I had a feeding top on and I just very discreetly opened up, put my pump on, covered my pump flange with my hand, so actually you don't see anything really." 

- Lauren Ellis

Ellis explains that with one minute left of pumping, one of the staff members asked her to cover up and said she couldn't do that in their store.

"She was polite enough in a nice way, she wasn't rude but I was absolutely taken a back and threw a little bit of a tantrum...We had a bit of back and forth and she said her manager said I need to leave."

- Lauren Ellis

Ellis then asked to speak to the manager.

"The manager came over and said he didn't say anything...he said no one complained."

- Lauren Ellis

"The bottom line is it's not a Starbucks issue, this is a global issue. This is something that happens day in and day out where moms are shamed for trying to nourish their babies in all settings."

- Lauren Ellis

Ellis says Starbucks reached out to her on Instagram saying they would investigate the matter.

"We have a right to breastfeed or pump in public."

- Lauren Ellis

Scroll up to listen to the full interview.