An insider told Britain’s News of the World that during a photoshoot for her line of children’s swimwear, "Liz suggested Damian pose in the bikini. Other people were uncomfortable with it but she insisted."

The snitch said, "It's an outrage Liz made her son do this. He's not old enough to make that sort of decision. Imagine the teasing he could suffer at school. Why would any parent do this to their child?"

Other critics complained that Hurley was exploiting her child in order to sell the line of expensive bathing suits. The line was condemned before for its use of animal print fabric, which many claimed was too “sexy�? for children.