Sophie Turner Parenting Criticism Controversy, Explained

Photo: Marc Piasecki/WireImage

It is a perennial cultural pastime for strangers to zero in on the precise moment that a mother is not tending to her child and accuse her of negligence. Last week, the mother in question happened to be Sophie Turner, who posted some innocent photos of her and a friend living it up at the Oasis reunion tour. “Lmfao I think she has forgotten that she has two kids,” one commenter snarked, as if the Oasis tour is not a congregation of middle-aged dads who have temporarily abandoned their children to relive their youth for the night. Turner responded, pointing out in a comment of her own that “there’s this crazy thing called shared custody,” where parents alternate caretaking responsibilities. “Maybe, just maybe, they were with their dad that day,” she added.

The Game of Thrones actress shares two children—Willa, 4, and Delphine, 2—with ex-husband Joe Jonas. He filed for divorce in 2023, setting off a tense custody battle during which sources alleged to TMZ that Turner was partying too much and saddling Joe with the kids while he was on tour.

Last year, reflecting on the rumors, Turner told British Vogue, “It hurt because I really do completely torture myself over every move I make as a mother — mum guilt is so real! I just kept having to say to myself, ‘None of this is true. You are a good mum, and you’ve never been a partier.’”

The two have been publicly amiable lately; Jonas said on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose Live Tour in May that he has a “beautiful co-parenting relationship that I’m really grateful for.” That’s great, but it doesn’t change the fact that moms are often held to wildly unfair caretaking standards. Let the woman enjoy “Wonderwall” in peace!