YouTuber Jesse Ridgway Faces Backlash After Terminating Pregnancy Due to Down Syndrome Diagnosis; Old Video Mocking Condition Resurfaces
YouTuber Jesse Ridgway announced he and his wife terminated their pregnancy after a Down syndrome diagnosis, sparking significant backlash from pro-life advocates and public figures. A 2017 video resurfaced in which Ridgway performed a stereotypical mockery of Down syndrome, which he defended as artistic character work. The incident has reignited debate over abortion, disability, and selective termination.
Jesse Ridgway, a YouTuber with over four million subscribers, announced via social media that he and his wife terminated their pregnancy after receiving a Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) diagnosis. He stated the decision was difficult and traumatic, citing concerns about the child's quality of life and family impact. The announcement drew immediate criticism from pro-life advocates, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, and sparked broader public debate. A 2017 video subsequently surfaced showing Ridgway performing a mocking impersonation of someone with Down syndrome in his series "The Devil Inside," using stereotypical voice and mannerisms. Ridgway defended the video as artistic character portrayal rather than mockery. According to sources, approximately 67-90% of Down syndrome pregnancies in the U.S. end in termination, and studies indicate people with Down syndrome report high life satisfaction rates.
How coverage differed
The Daily Wire uses more inflammatory language ("murdering baby," "skeleton rattling in his closet") and includes editorial commentary ("Translation: It's not mockery; it's cinema") that frames Ridgway more negatively than the New York Post, which presents facts with less interpretive language. The Daily Wire also emphasizes pro-life responses and statistics about Down syndrome life satisfaction more prominently.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
YouTuber who posted about aborting pregnancy because of Down syndrome previously made tasteless skit mocking condition
- Daily WireRight
YouTube Star Mocked Down Syndrome Years Before Murdering Baby Diagnosed With It
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