Jessica Simpson sparks debate after posting bikini photos of 5-year-old daughter

Jessica Simpson is at the centre of a debate on whether parents should publish images of their children wearing swimwear online.

The singer posted photos of her daughter, five-year-old Maxwell Drew, wearing a bikini to Instagram and was quickly criticised by followers who felt they were “inappropriate”.

“Too much too soon. Not cool in a world filled with perves!,” one commenter wrote. “Protect your children. This is not for social media.”, another added.

One Instagram user, who identified herself as a fellow mother, explained why she would never post a photo of her own young daughter in swimwear.

“I just read an article about predators using innocent photos like this and photoshopping them for their disturbing use and circulating them to their ‘friends’,” she wrote.

“Those are the ones best left in our photo albums.”

But hundreds more of Simpson’s followers have also come to her defence.

“If she’s comfortable with her daughter wearing that particular bathing suit then it’s no one’s right to judge her,” one Instagram user wrote.

“To everyone warning Jessica Simpson that people will sexualise her daughter because of this picture, that’s exactly what you’re doing,” another commented. “She’s a child. See this for what it is: a picture of a child having fun.

“If you’re worried for her safety then teach your kids about consent and discuss how outfits and presentation don’t imply consent to engage in sexual behaviour with anyone.”

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