Women's Health, Your Way

Ask & Search With Clara

Welcome to a new standard for women's health answers.

BODYTALK / PSA: Pregnancy Speculation is Never Okay, Even Towards Pr...

PSA: Pregnancy Speculation is Never Okay, Even Towards Problematic Celebs

PSA: Pregnancy Speculation is Never Okay, Even Towards Problematic Celebs

There's a certain female celebrity who has been in a lot of hot water recently, and much of it feels well earned.

This person was at the epicenter of a major scandal, and she responded to that scandal without much grace or accountability. But that doesn't excuse what's happening right now.

Many people are speculating that this star might be pregnant. The "evidence" to support this? From what I've seen, mostly just a photo of said celebrity with her dress billowing a bit. Could easily be me after when the wind hits me just right and I happen to wearing a loose dress, and I'm definitely not pregnant.

But here's the thing: Even if the evidence is far more compelling, there's just never a good reason to speculate that someone may be pregnant — even if it's someone you don't like.

Because at the end of the day, this is about whether the person you're talking about "deserves" privacy or grace. It isn't about extending respect and courtesy to someone. It's about creating a culture where we understand that speculating whether someone may or not be pregnant is just not okay. No matter what.

There are so many factors around why pregnancy speculation is so not okay: Someone could be recovering from a miscarriage. They could be dealing with another health issue that leaves them bloated. They could be getting sober (and so much pregnancy speculation happens when someone turns down a drink). They could be struggling with infertility. They could, in fact, be pregnant and not ready to share the news...and that's their choice to make.

Bottom line? Even if you don't like a celebrity, wait for a confirmation from them before publicly speculating that they may be expecting.

More from BODYTALK

When Anne Hathaway dropped her pregnancy reveal, the story quickly became about the expectant mom's age. And okay, fair — at 43, Hathaway's ability to get pregnant is noteworthy. But... Read more
It seems like everybody is talking about the Lindsay Clancy case, with so many women absolutely glued to the coverage. Of course, this is an incredibly layered story that touches... Read more
It's no secret that social media is breeding ground for lots and lots of strong, often contradictory, frequently baseless messages about what is and is not healthy, especially where food... Read more
By now, you've all seen shots of the viral "NO INFLUENCERS" sign that was put up in a Nantucket shop.Of course, the sign has elicited a lot of backlash. Some... Read more
There's a very famous woman who has been making major waves recently...and I can't help but reflect on what a complicated issue this truly is.A few years ago, we started... Read more
The Baby-Sitters Club recently turned 40, and when I heard this news, I found myself reflecting on how much this series meant to me…and how ahead of its time it... Read more
On social media, in headlines, in IRL conversations…the push for protein-ifying everything is real. Particularly for women of a certain age, the constant reminders that you’re probably not hitting your... Read more
Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved fashion and clothes and shopping. I used my outfits as a vehicle for self-expression. I didn't take it too seriously, I... Read more
I gave birth to my twins a little over two years after I started trying to conceive. Compared to what so many infertility warriors go through, that's nothing. A year-and-a-half... Read more
We've all heard the phrase "there are no ethical billionaires". And listen, I think it's a valid one. We live in a world with incredible wealth inequality, and it's simply... Read more