Lily Collins’ husband Charlie McDowell claps back at ‘hateful’ criticism over couple’s surrogacy decision

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Lily Collins recently took to her Instagram to share the joyous news of the birth of her first child. She posted a heartfelt photo of the little one and expressed her "endless gratitude" for the surrogate who helped her become a mother.

However, she faced criticism for choosing to opt for surrogacy. Her husband, Charlie McDowell, has defended their decision, pushing back against the backlash surrounding their parenthood journey.

Lily Collins faces backlash over welcoming baby via surrogacy

'Emily in Paris' star Lily Collins, 35, and her husband, filmmaker Charlie McDowell, announced they have welcomed their first child, a girl, via surrogacy in a Friday, January 31, Instagram post.

Collins wrote, "Welcome to the center of our world Tove Jane McDowell. Words will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way. We love you to the moon and back again," in the caption.

While the announcement was met with an outpouring of love and congratulatory messages from fans and celebrities alike, it also sparked a wave of criticism.

As per Daily Mail, the actress was accused by some social media users of participating in an "unethical trend"—with detractors arguing that surrogacy enables "rich people [to] rent women's bodies" and likening it to "trafficking".

Speculation also swirled around Collins' motivations, with some suggesting that she and other A-list celebrities opt for surrogacy to preserve their appearances and maintain their careers.

The couple has not disclosed their reasons for choosing surrogacy.

Lily Collins' husband Charlie McDowell defends their surrogacy decision

Lily Collins' husband Charlie McDowell, 41, responded to the backlash in a comment of the Instagram post on February 1.

He wrote, "In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby – it's OK to not be an expert on surrogacy. It's OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It's OK to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume."

He continued, "And it's OK to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people's lives. That's all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper."

Collins and McDowell, the son of 'A Clockwork Orange' actor Malcolm McDowell, began dating in 2019 after meeting on the set of his film 'Gilded Rage'.

They tied the knot in September 2021.

Collins has been candid in the past about her struggles with an eating disorder, which she detailed in her 2017 memoir, 'Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me'.

In it, she revealed how years of disordered eating, including bingeing on junk food and purging, had affected her reproductive system, causing her menstrual cycle to stop.

"I was terrified I had ruined my chances of having kids," she wrote.

Collins is not alone in turning to surrogacy to embrace motherhood.

Kim Kardashian, Amber Hear, Rebel Wilson among celebs who chose surrogacy

Kim Kardashian, 44, has openly discussed the medical necessity of using a surrogate for her two youngest children, Chicago and Psalm, after suffering severe pregnancy complications with her first two.

Amber Heard also welcomed her daughter, Oonagh, via surrogacy in 2021 after doctors told her she would never be able to conceive naturally.

Similarly, Australian actress Rebel Wilson chose surrogacy to have her daughter, Royce, following failed IVF attempts.

However, surrogacy isn't always a medical necessity.

Los Angeles-based fertility doctor Vicken Sahakian notes that some women, particularly those in Hollywood, opt for "social surrogacy"—choosing surrogacy as a means to continue working without pausing their careers.

"For instance, if you are a model or an actress and your income is based on performing and how you look, pregnancy will ruin that for a year if not more," Sahakian explained.

'Charlie’s Angels' star Lucy Liu has also been open about her decision to use a surrogate to have her son, Rockwell Lloyd, in August 2015, citing career demands.

"It just seemed like the right option for me because I was working and I didn't know when I was going to be able to stop," Liu shared.

She said, "I decided that was probably the best solution for me, and it turned out to be great."