Jesse Ridgway Defends His Decision To Terminate Wife's Pregnancy, 'Want My Kids To Be Functional...'

Popular YouTuber, Jesse Ridgway announced expecting a baby with his wife, Ashley a few months ago. However, the couple then decided to terminate the pregnancy when they discovered that their unborn child had Down syndrome. Ever since they revealed the news, Jesse and Ashley have been receiving death threats and harassment.

Jesse Ridgway defends his decision to terminate Ashley’s pregnancy

In an interview with Page Six, Jesse Ridgway defended his decision to terminate his wife, Ashley’s pregnancy after discovering that their unborn child had Down syndrome. Jesse revealed that he was initially comfortable with the idea of accepting the child who would have born with a condition. However, things changed when he read more and more about Down syndrome.

In the same interaction, Jesse stated that he wanted his kids to be fully functional and outlive him. Realising that he may have to bury his own son, he and Ashley decided to terminate the pregnancy. In his words:

“I was OK with it. I can love a kid no matter what, and we’ll make it work. The second I started to get confronted with stat after stat after stat, and when I realized that more than likely I will have to bury my son, that is not what I wanted to sign up for. I want my kids to outlive me and to be fully functional and be able to live a good life.”

Jesse Ridgway and Ashley faced public scrutiny for terminating the pregnancy

Jesse and Ashley have been preparing for the arrival of their baby ever since they got to know about the pregnancy. From getting the nursery ready to buying clothes, the couple was on cloud nine. But the toughest part for them was when they decided to terminate the pregnancy. But adding to their misery was the online trolling they faced post announcing their decision.

The couple faced an onslaught of criticism, including death threats. Revealing how he was exposed to the nasty side of humanity, Jesse shared that he was used to the online criticism but not his wife, Ashley. Jesse stated that Ashley couldn’t take the weight of the online criticism and death threats. Revealing how the couple is coping up with the experience, Jesse stated:

“The choice was not made lightly. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.”

Jesse Ridgway and Ashley revealed sleeping with a gun by their side

In a conversation with TMZ, Jesse and Ashley revealed that the threats turned violent which scared both of them. In turn, they are left with no option but to keep a firearm next to their bedside. According to Jesse, the couple has also installed a special security gate at their New Jersey home following the threats. They admitted that they are receiving highly intimidating messages through email, direct messages, and other platforms.

Addressing the online criticism, Ashley shared that hearing the views of women who faced similar situations has reassured her. In the same conversation, Ashley stated that she believes that sharing their experience publicly was the right choice. However, the couple admitted that they might think differently now about how much of their private lives they will share online in the future. 

What do you think about Jesse Ridgway and Ashley’s decision to terminate their pregnancy?

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