Advertisement

Somerhalder, Reed say decision to have a baby didn't involve 'reproductive coercion'

By Karen Butler
Nikki Reed (L) and Ian Somerhalder attend the 18th annual InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globe after-party in Beverly Hills on January 8. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
1 of 3 | Nikki Reed (L) and Ian Somerhalder attend the 18th annual InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globe after-party in Beverly Hills on January 8. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder have released a statement addressing the backlash they received after recently recounting how they decided to start a family.

The pair made headlines last week when they appeared on Dr. Elliot Berlin's Informed Pregnancy podcast.

Advertisement

"[He] threw out all my birth control pills," Reed told the host after Somerhalder recalled how they agreed to start trying for a pregnancy in May 2016.

Somerhalder explained he and Reed came to their decision while vacationing with friends in Barcelona. He said his friends filmed the actress' reaction as he flushed her birth control pills down the toilet.

"We decided that we wanted to have children together, and it was just time. But unbeknownst to poor Nikki, she didn't realize that I was going to go in her purse and take out her birth control," Somerhalder said.

"There's a six-minute video where she's freaking out," he added. "Actually, now thinking about it, I guess I kind of decided [to start a family]."

After days of criticism from people who accused Somerhalder of making reproductive decisions for his wife, the couple posted a joint statement on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Saturday, clarifying what happened.

Advertisement

"To anyone who has been affected by reproductive coercion, we are deeply sorry," the actors said.

"That is an extremely serious issue, and women's rights is something that is incredibly important to both of us. It is something we've been very vocal about, and something that is very close to our hearts. We never expected a lighthearted interview we did poking fun at EACH OTHER and how WE chose together to get pregnant, a goofy moment in Barcelona with our two best friends and the anticipation of our journey together as we went from two to three, to turn into something representing a very serious matter," they continued. "We are two happily married people who chose TOGETHER to have a baby. The end."

Reed and Somerhalder welcomed their first child, daughter Bodhi Soleil, in July.

Latest Headlines