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Tika Sumpter of 'Gossip Girl' welcomes first child

The actress had announced her pregnancy in August.

By Annie Martin
Tika Sumpter at the New York premiere of "Get On Up" on July 21, 2014. The actress welcomed her first child Oct. 5. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 3 | Tika Sumpter at the New York premiere of "Get On Up" on July 21, 2014. The actress welcomed her first child Oct. 5. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Tika Sumpter is a first-time mom.

E! News reported Tuesday that the 36-year-old actress gave birth to daughter Ella-Loren on Oct. 5.

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"Dear Mom's, dad's and caretakers, I'm slow clapping for each and every one of you. It ain't no joke," the star tweeted of motherhood this week.

Sumpter had announced she was expecting while promoting her movie Southside with You in August. She later told Fit Pregnancy she kept her pregnancy a secret to avoid questions about the baby's father.

"She's my first child, and I wanted to experience every moment of this pregnancy for myself and enjoy it without everybody else being in it with me," the actress said. "Until recently, you couldn't tell if I was pregnant or had a little beer belly!"

"I didn't want to hear, 'Who's the dad,'" she explained. "Social media can be harsh, and I'm a mama bear, protective of my family. So that's why I waited to tell people, including some of my friends. My friends weren't mad at me."

Sumpter told Fit Pregnancy she and her unnamed boyfriend of nearly two years would "love" to get married in the future. The actress is known for Gossip Girl, The Game and The Haves and the Have Nots, and played Michelle Obama in Southside with You.

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