MEG RYAN is devastated by the public criticism she has received since she started dating RUSSELL CROWE - especially about her mothering abilities.

According to pals, the PROOF OF LIFE star has received complaints from fans that she's a bad mother to her son JACK since she split from hubby DENNIS QUAID. A friend says, "Meg is distraught over the criticism she's been getting over her affair with Russell - and that some people feel she's a bad mother. "Some of her friends have more or less shunned her since news of the affair came out. One woman, a perfect stranger, walked up to her in the street and told her she should be ashamed of herself."

When asked for his opinion, psychologist DR ROBERT BUTTERWORTH said, "She's not setting a good example by exposing her child to her affair. She's teaching the boy the wrong set of values." But estranged hubby Quaid argues, "Meg is a very good mother to Jack. She is loving, nurturing, attentive and has always been there for our son."

(MB/TS/NFA)

Source: WENN