A YouTuber says they’re facing backlash after terminating their pregnancy after learning the fetus had Down Syndrome.
Jesse Ridgway detailed his and his wife Ashley’s “impossible decision” in an Instagram story alleging the harassment has included death threats and comparisons to Adolf Hitler.
“The last 24 hours have exposed a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing,” Ridgway wrote Thursday night.
Ridgway, who uses the Instagram handle McJuggernuggets, told his 624,000 followers in April that testing showed he and his wife were expecting a boy. They also learned there was a “95% chance” their son would be born with Down Syndrome, which could’ve come with other complications. The pair later decided to terminate the pregnancy, Ridgway indicated.
“So many saying they would’ve kept the child, put it up for adoption or are suddenly ready to adopt a down syndrome child, that’s great! You can do all those things,” he said.
Ridgway also alleged many of his critics don’t have children — let alone children with disabilities. Studies show that the abortion rate is considerably higher for parents whose babies would be born with Down syndrome.
“On the other hand, there has been tremendous stories of people who kept their Down Syndrome baby and that’s awesome! Very courageous and they do look very happy! That is your choice and I support it.” he added. “This was ours and we can do that.”
While some Instagram users supported the Ridgways, others suggested they might regret their decision.
“I dare you to spend five minutes with a person with Down Syndrome,” wrote one Canadian man. “You might just discover you deprived yourselves of the greatest opportunity of your lives.”
Ashley said in a YouTube video posted last year that she “could play a good villain” if cast in that role. She and her husband shoot videos about their lives.