Halle Bailey admitted keeping her pregnancy private was a matter of self-preservation – for herself, for her family and for the “greatest joy” of her life.
The “Little Mermaid” and “Color Purple” actor-singer explained why she and rapper DDG kept their baby news under wraps and off social media for months. The couple welcomed their son Halo in January.
While accepting an award at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood ceremony on Thursday, the 23-year-old said “there was no way I was going to share the greatest joy in my world with anyone either”, according to video shared by the Hollywood Reporter.
Learn more: Halle Bailey welcomes first baby with rapper DDG after two years of dating and drama
She continued: “Halo was my gift – he is the greatest blessing, and I had no obligation to expose him or my family to this unyielding spotlight.”
Bailey and DDG, 26, sparked pregnancy speculation in September 2023 when Psix years reported that the Chloe x Halle singer avoided the spotlight and was “very mindful of the way she hugged” during the MTV Video Music Awards. After pregnancy rumors spread, Bailey's social media followers apparently started paying more attention to her every move and social media posts.
In fall 2023, fans speculated that the singer was doctoring her Instagram photos, including those of her and DDG. Halloween costumes and those of “Purple color” premiere in Los Angeles. Obviously, her fans were eager to know more about Bailey's pregnancy.
Learn more: Halle Bailey Describes Her Relationship With DDG: 'He's My First Deep, True, Deep Love'
“Welcome to the world my halo 🥰👼🏽 ✨,” she captioned Instagram post announcing the arrival of Halo, “the world desperately needs to know you 😉🤣♥️”
Since welcoming their first child together, Halle and DDG – who started dating in 2022 – have spoke about his decision to exclude social networks. Replying to fans on Snapchat in January, Bailey said she wanted to make sure she had a “beautiful, private, wholesome time on my journey.”
In a January vlog, DDG (real name Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) joked about internet sleuths investigating his girlfriend's pregnancy.
“A lot of you should quit your jobs and start looking for detective work,” he said, “because you’d all do pretty well at it.”
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.