For many, Monday was a day to celebrate, as Britney Spears announced she was pregnant and her fans rejoiced. After so much trauma, the 40-year-old singer told her social media followers the heart-warming news with a long Instagram post, in true Britney fashion.
‘I lost so much weight to go on my Maui trip only to gain it back,’ she wrote. ‘I thought “Geez … what happened to my stomach ???” My husband said “No, you're food pregnant silly!” So I got a pregnancy test … and uhhhhh well … I am having a baby!’
Near 60,000 comments and 1.8 million likes later, it’s safe to say people are thrilled for Britney. Except for, of course, the token few. We say token few, but scroll through Twitter and you’ll see a common theme in the comments condemning her pregnancy: ageism. Or rather, sexism and ageism infused into one.
‘Omg isn’t she like, 50?’ was one message on Twitter (she's 40). ‘Forty is always considered a high-risk pregnancy no matter what. She will have to be extra careful,’ another said. In fact, for the 200,000-plus searches for Britney Spears today, the most searched terms are ‘How old is Britney Spears?’ and ‘Britney Spears age’.
The way people are speculating, you would think it was obscene for women to have children later in life, as if that hasn’t been a common phenomenon for decades. And what they seem to be forgetting is that Britney had no control over her reproductivity while in her 13-year-conservatorship, forced to have an IUD for years despite complaints from the star.
This then, is the only time Britney could have chosen to have another child (she already has two with her ex Kevin Federline: 16-year-old Sean and 15-year-old Jayden) and we should be celebrating her choice to exercise her newfound freedom in this way.
But the trolling doesn’t end there. Some are suggesting Britney isn’t capable of caring for a baby, while others imply that this is all part of some masterplan by husband Sam Asghari to control her life. ‘That is the most stupidest thing Britney can do, have sex and then a baby,’ one person said. ‘She should have waited until she was married. I still support her. But she needs to understand how to take care of a baby. I don’t think she knows how to.’
‘Nope,’ another added. ‘Unfortunately, pegged this one, just took longer than I thought but he finally made it to that financial promised land. Next step, breakup down the road, possibly with parental child abduction. Or he gets court to deem her unfit, child support to 18.’
As is the internet, the reaction is all very hateful for such a celebratory moment. But as women well know, it is ludicrous to suggest Britney is ‘too old’ to have a baby, or that it is irresponsible for any woman to have a baby at 40.
So, rather than finding a way to tear down a star traumatised by intense fame for decades, perhaps we should simply be congratulating Britney on this joyous occasion. With the end of her conservatorship, she regained control of her reproductive rights and is finally free to have more children, if that isn’t something to smile about, we don’t know what is.
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