Halle Bailey is speaking her truth about why she chose not to publicize her pregnancy with son Halo and keep things private.
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In a moving and tearful speech at the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood awards on Thursday, Bailey—who was one of four honorees at this year’s event—reflected on her decision and the reasons behind why she chose to keep that part of her life out of the public eye, citing both her personal convictions and the state of the world when it comes to women’s reproductive rights.
“What was one of the biggest highlights of my life, and to be real one of the biggest challenges too, cannot compare to the biggest joy of my life. And that was becoming a mom to my perfect little angel Halo,” Bailey said in part. “These lessons, some hard, that I’ve shared with you today, led me to a place of protection. There was no way in hell I was gonna share the biggest joy of my world with anyone. Halo was my gift, he is the greatest blessing. And I had no obligation to expose him, him or my family to that unyielding spotlight.”
She continued:
“Did criticisms come? Of course they did. But with the state of the world, the place that it is in, with men trying to force their will on our bodies and our reproductive rights—no one on social media and for damn sure no one the planet was going to tell me what to do with my body or what to share with the world.
“The Little Mermaid” star concluded by thanking Black women for being in her corner and serving as a source of support in both her career and pregnancy journey.
“So standing here today with all of you, not just as an actress but as a woman and now as a mom—I am clearer now more than ever what it means to be in this room,” she said. “The colossal love and support in this room held me up and continues to give me strength. You have my back. You told the world ‘she is ours and we are hers. Don’t mess with us.’ And I am so grateful for that.”
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