Love Island star Anna Vakili's sister Mandi apologises for breastfeeding comments after receiving death threats  - as Katherine Ryan weighs in on debate

Love Island star Anna Vakili’s sister Mandi has apologised for her comments about women breastfeeding in public making her feel 'uncomfortable'.

The influencer, 34, went viral after she voiced her opinion on mothers breastfeeding their babies in a now-deleted clip from their podcast, Sisters In The City, after which she received an outpouring of abuse and outrage.

Taking to Instagram on Monday to address the issue, she urged critics not to aim their ire at her reality star sister, 36, and instead vowed to 'educate herself and take accountability' before shedding light on some of the comments she received.

Mandi revealed: 'I've been told to kill myself, I've been threatened to killed, my family's been sent abuse and threats... Even people I know have said if they see me they're going to attack me... I've been called most vile things, like paedophile.'

Katherine Ryan – who has been very open about her own breastfeeding journies –  was asked to show support for breastfeeding mothers, which she said she does by feeding with 'BOTH boobs out in support' not be commenting on Mandi.

Going make-up free, Mandi spoke to the camera saying: 'I want to address the clip that has been going viral. The first thing I want to say is please direct your anger towards me and not my co-host, my sister Anna...

'She didn't say anything, I feel like she's just suffering because of the comments I made. I just want to make it clear that I never said - and I don't even think - that a woman shouldn't be able to breastfeed wherever she wants, whenever she wants, however she wants...

'I don't even think that and I never said that. I said that whenever a woman is breastfeeding without a cover and an entire breast is exposed and I'm there in a public place, I get a little bit awkward and uncomfortable.

'But seeing how many women are genuinely affected and upset about my comments, I am really sorry, this really should not have been shared on a public platform.'

Mandi went on to explain lack of education was the issue, writing: 'I had no idea that there is already so much stigma, judgement and battles that mums are going through surrounding this topic. So I need to educate myself, I need to do better...

'So I didn't realise how much of a sensitive topic this is for women and mums.'

Following her apology, she shed light on what she had been through, saying: 'I do think that even though I was wrong and I can take accountability, I don't think it was a justified amount of abuse I received the last two days...

'I've been told to kill myself, I've been threatened to killed, my family's been sent abuse and threats... my partner... even people I know have said if they see me they're going to attack me...

'I cancelled my plans yesterday because I was so scared of getting attacked by someone. I've been called every single name under the sun, the most vile things, like paedophile, 'infertile forever' - just really horrible things.

'I think, instead, this comment I made could have opened up a discussion and it could have opened up debate and it could have been an opportunity for us to all educate each other and for me to be educated myself...

'Instead, [it became] a violent hate campaign towards me. It may be possible I felt that way or had that opinion because of my environment from my upbringing, my culture, my friends and I've never been around anyone who's been confident enough to breastfeed completely exposed and maybe that conditioned my feelings and that's conditioned me...

'Also, I want to say that if you know me as a content creator and you know the podcast, you know I'm very extreme and exaggerated and over the top and graphic and loud about everything I talk about and I dress everything I say in a very comedic way...

'I take the p**s out of my sister, my boyfriend and I do that with everything. So maybe that's why a sensitive topic came across as even more insensitive and I want to apologise for that as well...

'I understand that certain topics can't be spoken about in that way. I would really like to thank everyone who shared constructive criticism, given me advice and spoken to me in a constructive, helpful way.'

In the original clip, Mandi said: 'I'm going to be the first one to say it. I don't like it when I see women breastfeeding in public. It makes me uncomfortable... 

'Look, I'm not saying don't do it. It's my opinion. If I'm just in a restaurant and the woman is next to me with a human sucking on her and her breast is moving, I just get a bit uncomfortable.

'I don't really know what to do and sometimes my dad's there and I get uncomfortable around my dad. My dad gets awkward. We all get awkward.

'Everybody's like women we're free, we're feeding, we're reproducing. We are mother nature.'

Mandi also made hand gestures to mimic breastfeeding which provoked a furious response from viewers on social media.

Viewers wrote: 'Mandi Vakili saying women breastfeeding in public makes her uncomfortable is so embarrassing for her. Her opinion is rooted in misogyny and pushes the narrative that women's bodies are for the male gaze.

'Breasts are literally designed to feed children if it's possible. She can have an opinion - albeit a WEIRD one - but to announce it publicly is wild.

'Her response was also completely tone deaf, some thoughts should stay thoughts.'

Others added: 'Years and years of trying to normalise something natural within society for a doris with a mic to try undo it all.'

'I'm sorry but calling breastfeeding in public 'uncomfortable' is not just an opinion when we already have mums hiding to feed their babies.

'Breastfeeding in public is legal. It isn't sexual, it isn't inappropriate, and it isn't a mum's job to make herself smaller so everyone else feels more comfortable. Sisters In The City and Mandi Vakili, you've got to do better girls. I sat and had your podcast when I was lonely and postpartum alone at home for company, this is just so disappointing'.

Others said: 'Sickening' and 'How can you say you just shared an opinion when in actual fact you fully mocked women who choose to breastfeed with your theatrics. Then you choose to over-sexualise breastfeeding.'

'If it makes you uncomfortable, get up and leave. That's a you problem, not a baby needing to be fed problem.'

Mandi then hit back at the backlash as she said in a follow-up comment: 'I'm not talking about the women who cover and breastfeed...

'I am saying the women who have their entire boob out next to me while I'm having my eggs florentine at the café makes me awkward and uncomfortable.

'Nobody said they shouldn't do it or be allowed to do it. But I can share an opinion that it makes me awkward and uncomfortable.

'I also respect your opinion if you disagree. Problem these days is everyone so sensitive and soft and annoyingly "omg can't believe you said that" that life is becoming muted and dull.

'I listen to opinions about me daily that cuss me and what I do, how I live, how I look. And I don't get. I don't get THAT offended. Everyone needs to toughen up... in my opinion.'