Amy Schumer responds to criticism for returning to work two weeks after giving birth

'Didn’t you birth a human like 5 minutes ago?'

Amy Schumer has hit back at critics who lambasted her for returning to work two weeks after giving birth to her first child.

The 37-year-old comedian, who gave birth to her son Gene Attell on 5 May, performed a stand-up set on Sunday evening and posted a snap from the event on Instagram writing “I’m back”.

But the post prompted thousands of social media trolls to chastise Schumer for performing so soon after giving birth, with one person labelling her “inhumane”.

“Contract or not you need to be allowed at least 6 weeks for maternity,” one person commented, while another urged her to “let the stitches dissolve first” and a third posted a shocked-face emoji, writing: “Take some time.”

“I’m sorry. What?! Didn’t you birth a human like 5 minutes ago?” wrote another person.

Many commenters stood up for Schumer, stressing that it’s “her choice” to return to work.

“Besides, work helps with postpartum depression,” one person noted, adding, “Amy, you're amazing. Rock on.”

Others were quick to point out that the Duke of Sussex travelled to The Hague three days after the birth of his son, Archie Harrison, and “no one bats an eye”.

On Tuesday, Schumer addressed the comments with a lighthearted Instagram post showing her with her breast pump alongside the caption: “Sending out love to the moms shaming me for doing standup last night!”

The post has been liked more than 653,000 times, prompting thousands of supportive comments from fans, including one from actor Selma Blair, who wrote: “Who the fudge would shame a mom for doing what she does? And how the hell did you do it?”

Plus-size model Tess Holliday also commented, writing: “But if you were a new dad it would be ok right?” while singer Demi Lovato added: “You’re a rockstar”.