Halle Bailey is speaking her truth about why she chose not to publicize her pregnancy with son Halo and keep things private.
Suggested Reading
In a moving and tearful speech at the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood awards on Thursday, Baileyโwho was one of four honorees at this yearโs eventโreflected 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 womenโs reproductive rights.
โWhat 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,โ Bailey said in part. โThese lessons, some hard, that Iโve 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.โ
She continued:
โDid 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 rightsโno 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.
โThe Little Mermaidโ 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.
โSo standing here today with all of you, not just as an actress but as a woman and now as a momโI am clearer now more than ever what it means to be in this room,โ she said. โThe colossal love and support in this room held me up and continues to give me strength. You have my back. You told the world โshe is ours and we are hers. Donโt mess with us.โ And I am so grateful for that.โ
Straight From
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.