Little Mermaid actor Halle Bailey recently opened up about her decision to keep her pregnancy private.
The 23-year-old actor explained her reasons for deciding to keep her pregnancy a secret from the media during her acceptance speech at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards on Thursday (7 March).
The star shocked fans by announcing the birth of her first son, Halo, with rapper DDG last year via Instagram.
Bailey chose a sweet picture of her holding her newborn infant while wearing an engraved bracelet of his name to share the exciting news with the world.
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The caption read: "Even though we’re a few days into the new year, the greatest thing that 2023 could have done for me, was bring me my son."
"Welcome to the world my Halo."
She continued. "The world is desperate to know you."
And she wasn't wrong.
Shocked fans rushed to her social media platforms to share both their surprise and excitement for the star's adorable new arrival.
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Now, the star has opened up on why she believed she had 'no obligation' to share her child with the world during her acceptance speech at the Essence awards show, saying: "Halo was my gift. He is the greatest blessing, and I had no obligation to expose him, me or my family to that unyielding spotlight.
"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."
She continued, giving praise to other women in entertainment industry who also decided to keep their pregnancy under-wraps, saying: "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," she said.
"Every woman in the world has that right to choose what to do with their bodies and what to share with anyone or everyone."
"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.
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"These lessons, some hard, that I've shared with you today, led me to a place of protection. There was no way in hell I was going to share the biggest joy of my world with anyone."
The Disney star wiped away tears during the emotional speech while thanking the strong women in her life for 'setting an example' for her.
"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."
Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Parenting