Halle Bailey and her boyfriend, rapper DDG, are enjoying being new parents after welcoming their baby boy, Halo, late last year. And while speaking at the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards on Thursday (March 7), the 23-year-old emotionally revealed why she kept her pregnancy under wraps and didn't publicize her baby bump.
Ahead of International Women's Day on Friday (March 8), Bailey explained that the decision to hide her pregnancy came from a “place of protection” and that the “state of the world” also played a role.
“There was no way in hell I would share my world's greatest joy with anyone. Halo was my gift. It is the greatest blessing and I had no obligation to expose him, me or my family to this,” said Bailey. “With the state of the world and the position men are in trying to impose their will on our bodies, no one on social media, and certainly no one on the planet, was going to tell me what to do with my body or what to share with the world.”
The Little Mermaid The star was on the verge of tears as she thanked the women who came before her and set what she believed to be the right example.
“Do you all remember when Prince Z David Marley came into the world, who was descended from a queen Lauryn Hill? Remember how private Beyoncé was about her pregnancy? We have that right. Every woman in the world has that right to choose what to do with her body and what to share with anyone or everyone,” she continued. “So thank you. I thank some of the strong women in my life, like my beautiful sisters standing here on stage with me, for setting examples of resilience, self-confidence and independence.”
Bailey and DDG revealed the birth of their son in January with a social media post about bringing Halo into the world and becoming new parents.
While she has mommy duties, Bailey is also back in the studio working on new music and is prepping a single called “In Your Hands” for next Friday (March 15).
“Whenever you're down and you're hurting,” I promise I'll be your only friend/ “Cause I know the demons are coming again, and we'll never, ever let them in,” Bailey croons before belting out the hook. . “In your hands, in your hands, the world is yours!”
“You asked for it, so I'll gladly give it to you,” he added to X.
Watch the clip of Bailey explaining her decision to hide her pregnancy below:
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/halle-bailey-no-obligation-reveal-pregnancy-1235627821/