There was a time when the only way to find out if Rihanna was pregnant was on the cover of a magazine on newsstands. But now celebrities are scrapping media exclusives and using more creative ways to announce their growing families to fans — if they share them at all.
Rihanna revealed her happy news in January with a paparazzi-style photoshoot where she was captured by Miles Diggs walking hand-in-hand with A$AP Rocky through the streets of New York City. The singer, actress and entrepreneur wore a long, unbuttoned pink coat to show off her growing baby bump, adorned with long body chains that fell in front of her belly.
Britney Spears revealed her pregnancy Monday in a casual Instagram post: “I took a pregnancy test…and hey…I’m having a baby,” she wrote. Beyoncé in 2017 and Cardi B in 2021 surprised fans by revealing their bumps during stage performances. Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom let the United Nations Children’s Fund present their bundle of joy to the world in 2020. Kylie Jenner announced the birth of her first child Stormi in 2018 by releasing a cinematic masterpiece and letting her fans know it was something she “chosen on”. not to do in front of the world.”
All show that the way the public learns about famous offspring is changing – and experts say social media and an increased desire for privacy are some of the reasons.
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Social media gives celebrities more control over their image
Lately, stars have had more autonomy in how they choose whether or not to share personal news, like pregnancies and new additions, and entertainment expert Dan Wakeford credits the shift to stars having more control. on their picture.
“I think the decentralization of media over the past decade has led to stars using their own platforms to tell their stories, using their own authentic voices and taking control of their messaging,” Wakeford said.
The strategy works for both the celebrity and their fan base. Social media gave them direct access to the public so they didn’t necessarily have to rely on the media or anyone else to tell their story, says Wakeford.
“The monetization of fame has completely changed over the last decade. Celebrities could do lucrative photo deals with magazines and now that won’t happen,” Wakeford said. “So the benefits of telling your own story are going to outweigh, especially if they can do the world good like Orlando and Katy did.”
Grimes and Mindy Kaling opted for privacy over publicity
Other celebrities choose to completely conceal their pregnancies or only share news of their new additions after the children arrive.
Grimes accidentally broke the news of her second child with Elon Musk thanks to the crying baby upstairs as she welcomed a Vanity Fair reporter into her home for an interview. Mindy Kaling kept her second pregnancy and the birth of her son a secret during the pandemic until she broke the news on an October 2020 episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly have chosen to keep the news of their sixth pregnancy a secret after the couple suffered two late pregnancy losses.
“We kept this one quiet. Honestly I was terrified when I found out,” Van Der Beek wrote on Instagram, while sharing the “happy and safe arrival” of their son Jeremiah.
It’s understandable that they want to keep some things private, experts say.
Anonymity is lost when you’re a public figure, especially when you’re constantly in the public eye on TV or in movies, says “Married to Medicine” cast member and OB/GYN Jacqueline Walters.
“In a society full of criticism and judgment, turning away from mainstream media allows celebrity mothers to control narratives about how they may be perceived as pregnant women,” Walters said.
Actress Olivia Munn, who welcomed a son with comedian John Mulaney last year, took this approach during her pregnancy, avoiding the barrage of media attention by not sharing coveted photos of baby bumps on social networks.
“There’s this vulnerability that I feel that makes me want to…turn it all off,” she told the Los Angeles Times in an interview. “I’d rather close the door on that and just take care of myself and my baby.”
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Celebrities may want to save a few moments for themselves
For celebrities who are constantly out in public, certain aspects of pregnancy, like name and gender, are sometimes the only thing they can have going for themselves without public opinion.
“They can’t hide their stomachs as the uterus grows, however, saving a single detail is the only true and harmless connection to the baby between the parents,” Walters said. “To block out the public and truly appreciate and cherish this private information that no one can squeeze out of them is unfathomable.”
A year after stepping back from royal duties, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan stayed true to their desire to stay out of the spotlight with the announcement of their second child Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. Traditionally, members of the royal family are immediately photographed with their newborn babies, as the couple were with their first-born Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose to “enjoy this special family moment” after Lilibet’s birth and kept her away from the public eye.
At the end of the day, whether you’re Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner or Rihanna, celebrities are still human and deserve the right to privacy just like everyone else, notes Wakeford.
“These are the most intimate details of someone’s life. Someone should have the autonomy to tell their own stories about their children,” Wakeford said.
Disclosing baby news has some benefits
However stars decide whether or not to divulge their pregnancy journey, there are some benefits to going about it the old-fashioned way. Having a respected media outlet share the ad adds credibility, says Wakeford, which can benefit lesser-known stars trying to reach a wider audience.
Revealing pregnancy news and sharing that journey with the public also helps break down the stigma that being with a child is an illness or disability, Walters says. Celebrities like Serena Williams, who spoke openly about her near-death experience after giving birth to Olympia in 2017, and Hilaria Baldwin, who was vulnerable sharing her grief after a miscarriage, can be helpful.
“The adverse effects and pregnancy complications shared by celebrities have also helped other pregnant women to advocate for the best medical care and provide a clear understanding of some of the risks associated with pregnancy,” Walters said.
Rihanna on the cover of Vogue:with a fashionable baby bump, dishes on the relationship with A$AP Rocky
