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Published 12:00 15 Jul 2021 GMT
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Published 10:06 12 Jun 2026 GMT
A heated online debate has erupted after YouTubers Jesse and Ashley Ridgway revealed they chose to terminate their first pregnancy following a diagnosis of Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome.
The couple, who married last year, had shared their pregnancy news in March, announcing that they were expecting their first child in the fall of 2026.
Fans of Jesse, better known online as McJuggerNuggets, celebrated the news and flooded social media with messages of support.
However, weeks later, the pair revealed that prenatal screening suggested their unborn son had a high likelihood of having Down syndrome. Hoping the results were inaccurate, they underwent further testing, including an amniocentesis procedure.
Jesse later confirmed that the diagnosis was verified, describing the experience as emotionally devastating.
On June 3, Jesse announced that Ashley had undergone a termination procedure earlier that week.
“This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21,” he wrote. “The choice was not made lightly.”
He acknowledged that many followers might disagree with the decision, adding: “I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news.”
According to Jesse, the couple spent weeks researching the condition, consulting doctors and genetic counselors, and discussing the situation with family members before making their decision. He described the process as “extremely traumatic” for both of them.
The announcement quickly divided opinion online. Critics argued that the decision reinforced negative perceptions about people with Down syndrome.
“What concerns me most is the message this sends about the value of people with Down syndrome,” one commenter wrote. “A disability does not diminish a person’s humanity or dignity.”
Others defended the couple, arguing that reproductive decisions are deeply personal matters that should remain between families and their healthcare providers. The discussion soon expanded into a wider debate about disability rights, prenatal testing, reproductive choice, and public attitudes toward genetic conditions.
As the controversy grew, many people with Down syndrome shared their own perspectives. Among the most widely circulated responses was one from actress, model, and disability advocate Lily D. Moore.
“Yes, they had a choice,” Moore wrote. “But no one with Down syndrome is a mistake, a glitch, or suffering.”
She acknowledged that receiving such a diagnosis can be overwhelming for expectant parents, saying: “I’m sure it is scary with all of the unknowns of having a child who was not what they were expecting.”
At the same time, she challenged assumptions about quality of life for people with Down syndrome.
“I’m personally living my best life and I know I am a blessing to my parents,” she wrote. “Wish they would have educated themselves!”
Moore's comments resonated with many advocates who argued that discussions about prenatal diagnoses often focus heavily on medical challenges while overlooking the experiences and achievements of people living with the condition.
Other advocates pointed to research suggesting that many individuals with Down syndrome report high levels of life satisfaction and maintain strong family relationships. Some shared stories about careers, friendships, travel, marriage, and independent living.
National Down Syndrome Society CEO Kandi Pickard also criticized Jesse's previous suggestion that Down syndrome “isn’t a blessing.”
Speaking to People, she said she “vehemently disagrees,” citing studies showing that “99% of people with Down syndrome are happy with their lives” and noting that most families love and are proud of their children with the condition.
Pickard and OB-GYN Dr. Eboni January both stressed the need for balanced, fact-based information for families facing prenatal diagnoses.
They emphasized that Down syndrome affects each individual differently and that families should be given accurate resources and compassionate support when making decisions.
As criticism continued, Jesse addressed followers directly and acknowledged the concerns raised by people with disabilities.
“You matter a lot and we’re glad you’re here,” he wrote. “I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward.”
He reiterated that the decision was made only after extensive conversations with medical professionals and loved ones. Despite the backlash, Jesse said he and Ashley believe they made the best decision for their family.
“You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change,” he wrote.
While Ashley's procedure was physically successful, Jesse said both of them were struggling emotionally.
“Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained.”
Looking ahead, Jesse said the couple hopes to heal and eventually try for another child.
“We made a difficult decision that we believe in the long run will be beneficial for our family,” he wrote. “Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome.”
Published 09:30 05 Jun 2026 GMT
A YouTuber and his wife revealed that they chose to terminate their pregnancy after being told that their child would have a genetic condition.
Jesse Ridgway, known online as McJuggerNuggets, has garnered a following online through his skits, vlogs and web series'.
The US influencer is known for sharing aspects of his life with his fans and recently, this included his unborn child's Down syndrome diagnosis.
Ridgway revealed that doctors told him and his wife that their son would have the condition, and as a result, they decided to terminate the pregnancy.
The creator, who has over 4.3 million subscribers on YouTube, said that he hopes that sharing their experience will help other couples in a similar position.
In a video on his personal YouTube channel, he explained the results of an amniocentesis, which is a test for certain genetic abnormalities, chromosomal conditions, and fetal infections; the results were consistent with a Down syndrome diagnosis.
After reading out the results of the amniocentesis, the influencer said they considered terminating the pregnancy, adding: “I know this is traumatic for the whole community. Now that we have a definitive result, we’ll talk with the counselors, and we’re gonna have some hard conversations.”
Both he and his wife, Ashley, were emotional and in tears throughout the video, posted last week.
On Wednesday (June 3), Jesse posted a statement on his Instagram story, revealing their decision to terminate the pregnancy.
It read: “This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21," which is another term for Down Syndrome.
While he said the decision was "not made lightly," he thanked fans for their support, adding: “I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.
“She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained.”
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times this week, he shared that the diagnosis online happened by accident, having spotted the preliminary markers for Trisomy 21 in the middle of their gender reveal video.
He told the publication: “We were filming and ready to celebrate with our audience and we were blindsided.
“What do we tell people? How do we navigate this? I reverted to being honest, and yes, that led us to the last 48 hours.”
Jesse revealed that their DMs were full of messages of support and confessions from others who had done similar; they also received a "tremendous amount of death threats. People saying we’re murderers."
He would post more about their decision, writing: “When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. ... I signed on to be a parent, come what may ... but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed.
"Once we made it public, it became clear that MOST people don’t know what Down Syndrome entails (and no, it’s not the same as Autism)."
He then started to post statistics about the genetic condition: “50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc."
Ridgway didn't hold back on his assessment of the condition, stating: "Down Syndome isn’t a 'blessing', it is objectively s**t from a health perspective."
He also admitted that they were reluctant to post the video after filming the results of the amniocentesis, as he admitted: “But I kept coming back to, there are so many people out there like us dealing with these things, and nobody’s talking about it.”
Despite not wanting to watch the video back, he said he believes the video will "have a net positive" for others, though he acknowledged that "people are going to cast their judgments."
Ashley had the abortion on Monday, with Ridgwell supporting his wife through the tough time.
“There are a million abortions every year, and I’m just shocked that one couple deciding to abort for Trisomy 21 is mainstream news. This is happening every day, and it’s just not talked about,” he went on.
The National Institutes of Health states that 6,000 babies are born in the US each year with Down Syndrome, affecting about 1 out of every 700 babies.
They note that "With appropriate support and treatment," those with the condition can live happy, productive lives, despite the "lifelong health challenges and risks."
Healthline revealed the statistics behind those who choose to terminate their pregnancy after being given a positive test for Down Syndrome.
They say that almost 100 percent of women in Iceland terminate their pregnancy as a result of this, while Denmark has a 98 percent rate, and the US has a rate of 67 percent.
Published 11:46 07 Jun 2026 GMT
YouTuber Jesse Ridgway claims he has been sleeping with a gun beside him after he and his wife, Ashley, were sent “non-stop death threats” since they shared their decision to terminate a pregnancy after receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis.
Last week, the couple wrote a social media post telling their followers that they made the “difficult decision” to end Ashley's pregnancy due to Trisomy 21, another term for Down syndrome.
Ridgway said: "The choice was not made lightly.
“I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.
“She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally, we are drained.”
The influencer cited some of the health risks to both mother and baby associated with Down’s Syndrome, including “very HIGH risk of miscarriage and usually comes with heart defects, structural abnormalities, developmental issues, shorter lifespan”.
He claimed that these are the reasons that continuing the pregnancy would be “objectively s**tty from a health perspective” and not “a blessing”.
Ridgway added: "I didn't realise just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family... more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life."
The couple revealed that they received huge backlash to their announcement and claimed they had been exposed to the “darker side of humanity”.
Ridgway said: "The last 24 hours have exposed a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing. Being called 'murderous pieces of s**t, evil, compared to Hitler,' and receiving NON-STOP DEATH THREATS."
In a recent interview with TMZ, Ridgway said the response to their announcement of their decision had been “shocking”.
He told the news outlet: “With the death threats and stuff, it’s been shocking.”
Ridgway also shared that the couple has had to increase their home security, telling the interviewer: “I have a gun next to my nightstand, because it’s been getting so ridiculous.”
Despite the terrifying response from thousands of people online, the couple has also been contacted by “so many mothers” who reached out to thank them for their “bravery to speak truthfully about this topic”.
The influencer, who has 625k followers on Instagram, added: "There has never been a more important time to speak up and out about the things that matter. Do not let the vocal minority stop you from sharing your truth.
"To those who have been affected by this or are confronted with a similar situation in the future, we have your back and please feel free to reach out.
"I'm sure this will follow us awhile especially when we try for a kid again in the near future."
A woman with Down's syndrome has slammed the UK's abortion law which allows fetuses with the condition to be legally aborted at any time.
Heidi Carter, 26, from Coventry, England, is now challenging the law along with two other claimants at the British High Court in a case that began on Tuesday, July 13, per BBC.
Jason Coppal QC, the claimants' barrister, said the High Court the current law "stereotypes and demeans".
He said to Lord Justice Singh and Justice Lieven that Máire Lea-Wilson that he "believes it is morally and ethically wrong to destroy life on the grounds of a disability.
"But what we will try and establish is that it is legally wrong".
Listen to Carter challenge abortion laws below:At the two-day hearing, lawyers put forward the argument that the current law is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
"Two of the claimants are in the minority of fetuses who were diagnosed with the condition and not aborted and they live happy and fulfilling lives, as evidence shows the majority of people with Down's syndrome do," Coppal told the court.
Per NHS, abortions can be legally carried out in any case until 24 weeks.
However, this legal time limit does not apply if there is "a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped", and this includes Down's syndrome.
Carter, who campaigns under her maiden name of Crowter, said: "I am someone who has Down's syndrome and I find it extremely offensive that a law doesn't respect my life, and I won't stand for it.
"I want to change the law and I want to challenge people's perception of Down's syndrome. I want them to look at me and say 'this is just a normal person'."
Another claimant, Lea-Wilson, of west London, said she was taking action on behalf of her son Adian who she wants to "grow up knowing he's not someone people have to cope with, he's not a burden to society, he is a wonderful human being in his own right".
"I have two sons who I love and I value equally and I can't understand why the law doesn't," she added.
She went on: "I was 34 weeks pregnant when I discovered Aidan had Down's syndrome and I was asked if I wanted to terminate the pregnancy in the context of a lot of medically biased information, and my own grief, three times.
"The last time I was asked to terminate the pregnancy was two days before he was born."
Carter said that the case has nothing to do with a woman's ability to chose.
Published 09:41 25 Jun 2022 GMT
A mom-of-six is once again going viral on Twitter after sharing what some are calling "the greatest Twitter thread" of all time.
It comes in the wake of Friday's SCOTUS ruling to overturn the historic Roe v. Wade decision, which now means that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion.
As reported by CNN, Justices voted 5-4 in favor of the ruling - a ruling that will have huge consequences on women's reproductive health across the country and a ruling that President Joe Biden says "is literally taking America back 150 years."
In the aftermath of the ruling, many pro-choice arguments are being shared on social media, with one mom-of-six's lengthy Twitter thread once again getting attention.
Written back in 2018, author and art director Gabrielle Blair posted the series of tweets to shine a light on what the mother describes as "men [grandstanding] about women's reproductive rights".
She writes: "I’m a mother of six, and a Mormon. I have a good understanding of arguments surrounding abortion, religious and otherwise. I've been listening to men grandstand about women's reproductive rights, and I'm convinced men actually have zero interest in stopping abortion. Here's why...
"If you want to stop abortion, you need to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And men are 100% responsible for unwanted pregnancies. No for real, they are. Perhaps you are thinking: IT TAKES TWO! And yes, it does take two for _intentional_ pregnancies."
"But ALL unwanted pregnancies are caused by the irresponsible ejaculations of men. Period," she argues.
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Blair continued: "Though their sperm gets crappier as they age, men can cause unwanted pregnancies from puberty till death. So just starting with basic biology + the calendar it’s easy to see men are the issue here.
"But what about birth control? If a woman doesn’t want to risk an unwanted pregnancy, why wouldn’t she just use birth control? If a women can manage to figure out how to get an abortion, surely she can get birth control, right? Great questions."
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Speaking about female birth control, Blair writes: "Modern birth control is possibly the greatest invention of the last century, and I am very grateful for it. It’s also brutal. The side effects for many women are ridiculously harmful. So ridiculous, that when an oral contraception for men was created, it wasn’t approved...
"...because of the side effects. And the list of side effects was about 1/3 as long as the known side effects for women's oral contraception.
"There’s a lot to be unpacked just in that story, but I’ll simply point out (in case you didn’t know) that as a society, we really don’t mind if women suffer, physically or mentally, as long as it makes things easier for men."
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But good news, Men: Even with the horrible side effects, women are still very willing to use birth control," she continued. "Unfortunately it’s harder to get than it should be. Birth control options for women require a doctor’s appointment and a prescription. It’s not free, and often not cheap."
"In fact there are many people trying to make it more expensive by fighting to make sure insurance companies refuse to cover it. Oral contraceptives for women can’t be acquired easily, or at the last minute. And they don't work instantly.
"If we’re talking about the pill, it requires consistent daily use and doesn’t leave much room for mistakes, forgetfulness, or unexpected disruptions to daily schedules. And again, the side effects can be brutal. I’M STILL GRATEFUL FOR IT PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT AWAY."
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Blair then moves on to condoms, and explained: "Condoms are readily available at all hours, inexpensive, convenient, and don’t require a prescription. They’re effective, and work on demand, instantly.
"Men can keep them stocked up just in case, so they’re always prepared. Amazing! They are so much easier than birth control options for women. As a bonus, in general, women love when men use condoms. They keep us from getting STDs, they don’t lessen our pleasure during sex...
"...or prevent us from climaxing. And the best part? Clean up is so much easier — no waddling to the toilet as your j**z drips down our legs. So why in the world are there ever unwanted pregnancies? Why don't men just use condoms every time they have sex? Seems so simple, right?
"Oh. I remember. Men _don’t_ love condoms. In fact, men frequently pressure women to have sex without a condom. And it’s not unheard of for men to remove the condom during sex, without the women’s permission or knowledge. (Pro-tip: That's assault.)"
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After theorizing why many men don't want to wear a condom, Blair concludes: "Men regularly choose to put women at massive risk by having non-condom sex, in order to experience a few minutes of slightly more pleasure."
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Blair then stated that "it’s mind-boggling and disturbing when you realize that’s the choice men are making."
"We’ve trained men from birth that their pleasure is of utmost importance in the world. (And to dis-associate sex and pregnancy.)
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Shifting the thread, Blair then argues: "Let’s talk more about responsibility. Men often don’t know, and don’t ask, and don’t think to ask, if they’ve caused a pregnancy. They may never think of it, or associate sex with making babies at all. Why? Because there are 0 consequences for men who cause unwanted pregnancies.
"If the woman decides to have an abortion, the man may never know he caused an unwanted pregnancy with his irresponsible ejaculation.
"If the woman decides to have the baby, or put the baby up for adoption, the man may never know he caused an unwanted pregnancy with his irresponsible ejaculation, or that there’s now a child walking around with 50% of his DNA."
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"If the woman does tell him that he caused an unwanted pregnancy and that she’s having the baby, the closest thing to a consequence for him, is that he may need to pay child support," Blair adds. "But our current child support system is well-known to be a joke."
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"If you’re not holding men responsible for unwanted pregnancies, then you are wasting your time," the author states, directing her attention to those who are against abortion.
"Stop protesting at clinics. Stop shaming women. Stop trying to overturn abortion laws. If you actually care about reducing or eliminating the number of abortions in our country, simply HOLD MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS."
"What would that look like? What if there was a real and immediate consequence for men who cause an unwanted pregnancy? What kind of consequence would make sense? Should it be as harsh, painful, nauseating, scarring, expensive, risky, and life-altering...
"...as forcing a woman to go through a 9-month unwanted pregnancy?"
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Comparing castration to the extreme "punishment" of pregnancy, Blair continued: "In my experience, men really like their testicles. If irresponsible ejaculations were putting their balls at risk, they would stop being irresponsible. Does castration seem like a cruel and unusual punishment? Definitely.
"But is it worse than forcing 500,000 women a year to puke daily for months, gain 40 pounds, and then rip their bodies apart in childbirth? Is a handful of castrations worse than women dying during forced pregnancy & childbirth?"
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She writes: "If you want to stop abortions, you need to prevent the 'disease' - meaning, unwanted pregnancies. And the only way to do that, is by focusing on men, because: MEN CAUSE 100% OF UNWANTED PREGNANCIES. Or. IRRESPONSIBLE EJACULATIONS BY MEN CAUSE 100% OF UNWANTED PREGNANCIES.
"If you’re a man, what would the consequence need to be for you to never again ejaculate irresponsibly? Would it be money related? Maybe a loss of rights or freedoms? Physical pain?
"Ask yourselves: What would it take for you to value the life of your sexual partner more than your own temporary pleasure or convenience?"
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Turning her attention to the US government - or rather, the men in the US government - Blair explained: "Men mostly run our government. Men mostly make the laws. And men could eliminate abortions in 3 months or less without ever touching an abortion law or evening mentioning women.
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Blair concludes: "In summary: STOP TRYING TO CONTROL WOMEN'S BODIES AND SEXUALITY. UNWANTED PREGNANCIES ARE CAUSED BY MEN. The end."
The response to the thread was overwhelming - with the tweets amassing thousands of shares and likes. One Twitter user responded: "Arguably the greatest thread I’ve seen on any subject. That good. Required reading."
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Another Twitter user added, "This is by far the best series of tweets I have read on Twitter. It steers clear of any insecurities that it may harbor, doesn't get polemic, doesn't pontificate or indulge in pedantic. You are absolutely right 100%"
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Yesterday, Blair responded to the Roe v. Wade overturning simply by tweeting: "I’m really angry and I’m really sad. They said they would overturn Roe and they did it and I hate them for it."
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Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Published 02:23 08 Mar 2019 GMT
In an unprecedented move, an Alabama judge is allowing a man to sue a clinic because his ex-girlfriend terminated her pregnancy without his consent. The incident took place in February 2017, when he was 19 and she was 16, The Independent reports. (The age of consent in Alabama is 16.) At the time she terminated the pregnancy, she was six weeks along, making the embryo about the size of a sweet pea. Now, for the first time in United States history, a probate court has recognized an aborted fetus as a person with rights.
In court documents filed on March 6 by Ryan Magers, he claims that he begged his ex-girlfriend to carry the pregnancy to term and give birth. She refused and opted to terminate the pregnancy by taking the so-called "abortion pill," which is actually two pills, containing mifepristone and misoprostol. The wrongful death lawsuit names both the Alabama Women's Center and the pharmaceutical company that made the medication.
In the filings, the fetus is referred to as "Baby Roe," a reference to Roe v. Wade, in which the US Supreme Court rejected the notion that a fetus is a person. But despite the ruling, three states have put "personhood" laws to a vote. Voters in Colorado and Mississippi rejected the measure, but voters in Alabama did not.
"I'm here for the men who actually want to have their baby," Mager explained to ABC 31. "I just tried to plead with her and plead with her and just talk to her about it and see what I could do, but in the end, there was nothing I could do to change her mind... I believe every child from conception is a baby and deserves to live."
"Ryan was all about family," Mager's lawyer, J. Brent Helms, told Refinery 29. "He took on extra jobs to be able to pay for the birth of Baby Roe. He doesn't know why she didn’t want to go through with the pregnancy."
Hannah Ford, a spokesperson for the anti-abortion group Personhood Alabama who is assisting with the lawsuit, issued a statement claiming Baby Roe "was cruelly robbed of life and silenced before entering the world or being able to personally voice complaint in court."
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The case has alarmed reproductive rights groups, who are concerned the "personhood" movement might spread. On Twitter, Ilyse Hogue, the president of Naral Pro-Choice America, called the case "very scary" because it "asserts woman's rights third in line," behind the man who impregnates her and the dead fetus. Salon writer Amanda Marcotte agreed, saying any man who "vetoes" an abortion is "not fit to be a father or a partner. Any such man is by definition, an abuser."
Those concerns are shared by Elizabeth Nash, the senior state issues manager at the Guttmacher Institute, which supports reproductive rights. "This man was unable to force his girlfriend to continue a pregnancy and so he’s taking an extreme action to exert control," she told Refinery 29. And speaking with The Independent, she explained, "[This case] has the potential to be used in other states, and it’s part of abortion opponents being emboldened... and conservatives turning over every rock to see how they can ban abortion."
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Mager's lawyer said the case could start a legal precedent that leads to the end of abortion in Alabama. However, law professors like Lucinda Finley from the University of Buffalo aren't so sure. She told The Cut that a wrongful death must be a "legally wrongful act in order to have a successful claim."
"In this case, the clinic that provided an abortion that the woman wanted and consented to did not perform any wrongful act," she said. "A third party who injures a pregnant woman and thereby ends her wanted pregnancy against her will is a vastly different situation than a woman who decides to end her own pregnancy."
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