Halle Bailey kept her pregnancy from the public spotlight, and some fans didn’t take kindly to that.
But the singer had her reasons.
According to People, Bailey shared her reasons during her acceptance speech at the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
“We are Black women in entertainment, and although we signed up for the challenges of the spotlight, in this current climate, that spotlight burns brighter, hotter, and uninterrupted, whereas the scrutiny of its magnification leaves no concealment.
“I’ve learned from that spotlight over the past eight years. I’ve also, if I’m being honest, been burned by it, too, as we all have.”
Halle Bailey referenced the racist reprisal she suffered after being announced as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
.@HalleBailey candidly shared why she decided to not share her pregnancy and chose to protect not only her peace but her child from the criticism of the world.
And quite frankly, it was none of our business. #ESSENCEBWIH24 pic.twitter.com/tyjs7MFpQD
— ESSENCE (@Essence) March 8, 2024
To Halle Bailey, Fame Doesn’t Hold A Candle To Being A Mom
Even though Halle Bailey is grateful to the role of Ariel, she can’t compare it to her life’s greatest joy.
“And that was becoming a mom to my perfect little angel Halo… There was no way in hell I was going to 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, me, or my family to that.”
Halle Bailey kept her pregnancy private partly because of the current state of the world.
“With the state of the world and the place it is in with men trying to force their will on our bodies, no one on social media, and for damn sure, no one on the planet, was going to tell me what to do with my body or what to share with the world.”
Halle Bailey and boo DDG kept the pregnancy under wraps until they announced their baby’s birth in an Instagram post.
Bailey revealed that some of the strongest women in her life supported her.
“Do y’all remember when Prince Z David Marley [Zion David Marley], who came from a queen named Lauryn Hill, entered the world? Do you remember how private Beyoncé was about her pregnancy? We have that right. Every woman in the world has that right to choose what to do with their bodies and what to share with anyone or everyone.”
“So thank you. Thank you to some of the strong women in my life, like my beautiful sisters standing here on the stage with me for setting examples in resilience, confidence, and independence.”
