Tori Spelling hits back at critics who shamed her for posting photo with son, 7, giving her a massage

Tori Spelling has issued a defiant statement asking critics not to ‘shame’ her after sharing a photo of herself and her seven-year-old son online.

American actress Spelling, 51, is best known for her role as Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210.

After graduating from the teen drama series, the star has gone on to become a New York Times Best Selling author, front a slew of reality TV series, and appear in the thirteenth season of Big Brother.

Spelling, who currently resides in the west Fernando Valley, often shares snippets of her life with her five children on social media. However, a recent post uploaded to her Instagram stories has landed her in hot water.

Tori Spelling hit back at haters after posting her son on Instagram (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)t

Explaining the situation on an episode of her misSPELLING podcast, the star began: “So on my Stories recently, I posted what I thought was a very cute photo of my 7-year-old son Beau, pretending being the keyword, pretending to give me a massage.

"And then I said he wanted to make money for an allowance, and I thought this was a good way to start. Beats chores, something like that. I don't know. Solid plan."

The Scary Movie 2 favourite went on to say that the pair were at a massage parlour and that Beau, whom she shares with her ex-husband Dean McDermott, 58, asked to help work on her back.

She claims the massage therapist delivering the treatment took a picture of Beau ‘pretending’ to give his mother a massage.

"And I just think it's wild. It's wild the stuff that you can put out there that they change the narrative on so hardcore."

Spelling went on to describe how surprised she was that the off-the-cuff snap ‘exploded’ in the press, remarking that even one of her friends messaged her about it.

The social media upload sparked mass backlash (Instagram/@torispelling)

“I mean, as soon as I put it up, one of my best guy friends, he DM'd me and he was like, 'That's not a good look.' And I'm like, 'I know. I like joking.

"I'm like, 'I know. He was getting all the wrong spots. Like, you should have started on the feet.' But he said, he's like, 'Oh my god. People are gonna freak out'."

Spelling doubled down, claiming the photograph was cute.

“Everyone knows it's not real. Clearly, we are not at home. I'm not making him do chores. Clearly, I'm at a massage parlour."

The mum-of-five then used her podcast to question why comedians are allowed to ‘post anything’ online, while actors are depicted as ‘horrible’ parents.

She added that she already has ‘mom guilt’ so doesn’t need people ‘shaming her’, believing she is ‘forcing [her] kids to massage [her]’.