Halle Bailey is opening up about why she chose to keep her pregnancy a secret despite the rampant social media rumors surrounding her throughout.
The Little Mermaid actress was honored at the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards on Thursday (March 7).
today i felt like a princess 💘it was an honor to receive the essence black woman in hollywood award 🥹💘to be lifted up by so many women who have paved the way for me to be here today is an incredibly special feeling. thank you to my sister @ChloeBailey for presenting me with… pic.twitter.com/mCk13sRdGL
— Halle (@HalleBailey) March 8, 2024
She became emotional during her acceptance speech while speaking about her son, Halo. The little boy quietly arrived shortly before Christmas last year.
After reflecting on her role in the Disney movie, Halle continued, “it cannot compare to the biggest joy of my life. And that was becoming a mom to my perfect little angel Halo.”
She explained, “There was no way in hell I was going to share the biggest joy of my world with anyone. Halo was my gift. He is the greatest blessing, and I had no obligation to expose him, me, or my family to that.
“With the state of the world and the place it is in with men trying to force their will on our bodies, no one on social media, and for damn sure, no one on the planet, was going to tell me what to do with my body or what to share with the world,” she said.
Halle referenced Lauryn Hill and Beyoncé, who both shied away from the public eye during 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.”
Halle Bailey’s acceptance speech at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood pic.twitter.com/Qjch6MLtey
— Chlöe x Halle Now (@cxhnow) March 7, 2024
Back in January, Halle Bailey’s partner and Halo’s father, DDG, also explained their choice to keep the pregnancy private.
“I think it was more so like people were already giving us negative vibes,” he said. “So it’s like, why let them know and then let them make her pregnancy stressful?”