DistantNews
Support us
YouTuber couple receives death threats after terminating pregnancy due to Down syndrome diagnosis
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Health & Science

YouTuber couple receives death threats after terminating pregnancy due to Down syndrome diagnosis

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife Ashley received death threats after announcing their decision to terminate a pregnancy due to a Down syndrome diagnosis.
  • The couple shared their "very difficult decision" after prenatal tests revealed Trisomy 21, leading to strong public reactions, including accusations of being "murderers."
  • Ridgway hopes their openness about the traumatic experience will help others facing similar situations feel less shame and more comfortable sharing their stories.

YouTuber Jesse Ridgway, known to millions of followers, and his wife Ashley are facing death threats after publicly announcing their decision to terminate a pregnancy due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. The couple revealed their "very difficult decision" after amniocentesis confirmed Trisomy 21 in their unborn child, a choice that has ignited a firestorm of public reaction.

I know some will be very disappointed with this news.

โ€” Jesse RidgwayJesse Ridgway's statement on Instagram after announcing the pregnancy termination.

Ridgway shared on Instagram that they are "devastated" by the news and described the experience as "extremely traumatic," particularly for Ashley, who underwent a procedure and is now recovering. Despite the emotional toll, the procedure went without complications. However, the couple was unprepared for the scale of the backlash, which included being called "murderers" by some.

We are devastated. This has been an extremely traumatic experience for both of us, and especially for Ashley.

โ€” Jesse RidgwayDescribing the emotional impact of the pregnancy termination decision.

While Ridgway anticipated some criticism, he expressed shock at the intensity of the online attacks. He noted the irony that while millions of abortions occur annually, their specific decision regarding Trisomy 21 became a major news story. Their social media platforms have been flooded with both support and a "huge number of death threats."

To see what this has turned into is quite shocking. A million abortions happen every year, and one couple's decision to terminate a pregnancy due to Trisomy 21 has become headline news.

โ€” Jesse RidgwayExpressing surprise at the intense public reaction to their personal decision.

Despite the harsh criticism, Ridgway believes their honesty can offer solace to others navigating similar circumstances. He stated that many people go through the same experience but remain silent. By sharing their story, he hopes to reduce shame and create a more comfortable environment for those in similar situations, believing there is value in their openness, even if they cannot dictate public judgment.

So many people are going through the same thing as us, and nobody talks about it.

โ€” Jesse RidgwayExplaining his motivation for sharing their story publicly.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog