NEED TO KNOW
-
Jesse Ridgeway and his wife Ashley faced criticism after revealing their decision to terminate a pregnancy due to the fetus being diagnosed with Down syndrome.
-
The blogger condemned the hate and death threats the couple had received, calling the response "extremely disturbing" and "divisive.".
-
«"If you can't contribute anything meaningful to the conversation other than insults, then just don't write," he wrote.
Jesse Ridgeway is responding to the criticism he and his wife received after revealing their "difficult decision to terminate" their pregnancy after the fetus was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
In a series of posts on his Instagram Stories on Thursday, June 4, the 33-year-old influencer responded to the "hatred and anger" he says he and his wife, Ashley, 31, have received since announcing their termination. In a statement, Jesse called their decision "unbearable," adding that after sharing the news, the New Jersey couple encountered a "deeply disturbing" side of humanity.
«"I've never seen such hatred and anger directed at two people grieving the loss of an unborn child and making an impossible decision. The last 24 hours have exposed a deeply disturbing side of humanity," he wrote. "I've been called 'murderous bastards, evil, compared to Hitler,' and constantly threatened with death.".
«"Seeing my 6-year-old dog with stage 4 kidney failure being used as a weapon, having my words and intentions manipulated in a tweet, or being told we will regret this decision for the rest of our lives and need to repent to God is utter and complete insanity," Jesse added.
Jesse said the reaction he and his wife received "reflects the current world and the situation we all live in," adding that it was "complete chaos.".
«"What's even more disturbing is that many of these people use God or Jesus as an excuse to threaten us and send us to hell… it seems quite hypocritical," he wrote. "So many people say they would keep the child, give it up for adoption, or are suddenly willing to adopt a child with Down syndrome—that's wonderful! You can do all of those things.".
He continued: «However, many of those throwing stones do not even have children, let alone children with any illnesses, and most likely they will never do what they promise.».
«"If you have nothing meaningful to contribute to the conversation other than insults, then just don't post anything," he wrote, before sharing details about other types of comments they'd allegedly received. "On the other hand, there have been amazing stories of people who kept their children with Down syndrome, and that's great! Very brave, and they look so happy! It's your choice, and I support it.".
«"It was ours, and we can do it," Jesse continued. "It's very easy to accept the differences between us when they don't really have any bearing on your life.".
A content creator who posts videos on finance and technology, family vlogs, and more on his YouTube channel shared what "shocked" him most about the whole situation.
«"What shocked me most was that this story became mainstream news... This couple's abortions are suddenly news in 2026...?" he explained. "Over 1,000,000 abortions are performed every year for a variety of reasons, it happens DAILY and is the most common outcome for trisomy 21, and yet this case has received widespread publicity, and people are surprised...? The reason it's caused such a stir is quite simple: BECAUSE NO ONE TALKS ABOUT IT.".
The Guttmacher Institute estimates that approximately 1.12 million abortions will be performed in 2025. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 67,85% pregnancies in the United States are terminated following a diagnosis of Down syndrome.
Jesse said he can't entirely "blame people" for not sharing "these vulnerable moments" of their lives publicly, calling the backlash "disgusting" and "very divisive." Jesse added that in his "20 years on the internet," he knows firsthand what it's like to "stand up to the crazy.".
«"I'm glad I can help advance the conversation. That's why I wanted to share this story," Jesse said. "People still need to see vulnerability and hear harsh truths. There's real suffering going on, and it's happening in silence and fear.".
Don't miss any news - subscribe to free daily newsletter PEOPLE , to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human stories.
«"Many mothers have reached out to us in private messages, praising our courage to speak the truth about this issue, and we truly appreciate this support! We want you to feel less alone and less ashamed," he added. "Now more than ever, it's important to speak up about what truly matters. Don't let a small minority stop you from sharing your truth.".
Jesse then addressed those who had gone through similar experiences as he and his wife, or who might face them in the future.
«"To those who have been affected by this or who face a similar situation in the future, we offer our support, and please don't hesitate to reach out to us," he wrote. "I'm sure this will haunt us for some time to come, especially when we try to have a baby again in the near future.".
Read the original article on People.