YouTuber slams ‘conspiracy’ after sharing he and wife terminated pregnancy following Down Syndrome diagnosis
A YouTuber has spoken out against the ‘conspiracy rabbit holes’ online after announcing he and his wife terminated a pregnancy after receiving a Down Syndrome diagnosis.
Last week, Jesse Ridgway, 33, and his wife Ashley shared with their millions of followers that they terminated her pregnancy after a test revealed the presence of Trisomy 21, a form of Down syndrome.
“This choice was not made lightly,” said Ridgway in a lengthy X post two days after the pregnancy termination. “We made a difficult decision that we believe int he long-run will be beneficial for our family.”
The post, which has been viewed 22.1 million times, sparked backlash, including criticism from parents of children with Down syndrome. The couple said they have also been on the receiving end of death threats.
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Jesse told the media that sharing the diagnosis online happened accidentally. The couple were in the middle of making a gender reveal video when they found the preliminary markers for Trisomy 21 on the same report.
“We were filming and ready to celebrate with our audience and we were blindsided,” he told the LA Times. “What do we tell people? How do we navigate this? I reverted to being honest, and yes, that led us to the last 48 hours.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 6,000 babies in the United States are born with the condition each year, representing about 1 in every 700 births.
Also known as Down’s syndrome, it is a genetic condition caused by an extra chromosome (chromosome 21), which usually leads to some level of learning disability, health issues and distinct physical characteristics.
In the UK, around 1 in 800 babies are born with Down syndrome and it is estimated there are around 40,000 people living with the condition.
Amid the backlash regarding the couple’s decision to end the pregnancy, Ridgway posted a response on Instagram Stories calling out the ‘internet detectives’ criticising their decision.
“Y’all can’t even keep your stories straight,” he wrote. “It’s crazy. Was she 6-months pregnant or 3-months pregnant? 18 weeks or 21 weeks.
“Was it a definitive Down syndrome diagnosis or just suspected? All the info has already been provided by us, but everyone just picks, chooses or makes sh*t up to fit their own narrative. As we creep further into the brainrot era of social media, people will forget how to even think for themselves.”
He continued: “The conspiracy rabbit holes deepen as people start to question if it was all real or fake…? Zooming in on ultrasound pics and my wife’s belly? Internet detectives putting in overtime only to discover their own tail. And we’re the ones with a problem…”
The Ridgways’ decision was not uncommon. Research shows that about 74% of pregnant women in the United States who receive a Down syndrome diagnosis choose to end the pregnancy.
The announcement shared with their followers last week emphasised that the decision was ‘not made lightly’ and shared their appreciation for the messages of support they had received.
“I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news,” the statement said. “We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley. She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained.”
He continued: “When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. ... I signed on to be a parent, come what may ... but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed. Once we made it public, it became clear that MOST people don’t know what Down Syndrome entails (and no, it’s not the same as Autism)."
He said: “50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc. ... Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up ... Down Syndome isn’t a ‘blessing,’ it is objectively sh*t from a health perspective. I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family.”
Greg Harris