The controversial decision by popular American YouTuber Jesse Ridgway (known among other things as McJuggerNugget) has shocked the internet. He and his wife decided to terminate a pregnancy after prenatal tests showed that their child would be born with Down syndrome.
They announced the news in a lengthy joint statement published on their channels and social media profiles. The couple explained that, after deep reflection and consultations with doctors, they chose abortion, citing the well-being of the child and the quality of its future life.
A Huge Storm Online
The decision provoked an immediate and very harsh reaction. Many people, including organizations supporting people with intellectual disabilities, expressed deep sorrow and outrage. Critics accuse the couple of eugenics and of a lack of acceptance for life with disability. Voices have emerged saying that „children with Down syndrome also deserve a chance” and that the decision is „tragic and selfish.”
On the other hand, some internet users defend Ridgway and his wife, stressing that this is a very personal and difficult decision, one the couple has the right to make, especially given awareness of the challenges that caring for a child with trisomy 21 entails.
The matter quickly divided the YouTube community and the wider public. Thousands of comments appeared under the statement, ranging from words of support, through brutal criticism, to accusations of hypocrisy.
Jesse Ridgway has for years shared his private life with his viewers, which has made this decision even more widely discussed.
What do you think? Do parents have the right to make such a decision, or is it unacceptable? Let us know in the comments.
