Charlie McDowell, the husband of Lily Collins, is speaking out against the negative remarks circulating on social media regarding the couple’s decision to use a surrogate for the birth of their daughter.

McDowell expressed his gratitude for the supportive messages received, stating, “Thank you for all the kind words and love. We are ecstatic and incredibly thankful.” He made this statement in response to criticism on a joint post announcing the arrival of their baby girl, Tove.

He further noted, “It’s completely fine not to be knowledgeable about surrogacy. It’s okay not to understand what might lead someone to choose surrogacy for a child, or to make assumptions about a surrogate’s motivations.”

He added, “And it’s also perfectly acceptable to refrain from spreading hate, especially towards a beautiful baby girl who has brought immense joy to many. That’s all for now because she just pooped, and I need to change her diaper.”

Lily Collins, known for her role in “Emily in Paris,” and McDowell, a writer and director from a family of actors, have been married for three years.

Celebrities speaking out about surrogacy include Olivia Munn and Priyanka Chopra

Many celebrities, such as Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Olivia Munn and John Mulaney, Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, along with Naomi Campbell and Elizabeth Banks, have shared their experiences with surrogacy in their journeys to parenthood.

While not every celebrity has detailed their reasons for choosing surrogacy, some have been open about the health challenges they faced that impacted their fertility.

Munn and Mulaney welcomed their daughter, Méi June, in September. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Munn decided to freeze her eggs for the third time at age 42 and underwent an oophorectomy and hysterectomy, which involved the removal of her uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, as part of her cancer treatment.

Reflecting on her experience, Munn shared in a May interview with Vogue, “Going through this journey, I’ve realized how fortunate I am to have options for both fighting cancer and potentially having more children, knowing that many others don’t share that privilege.”

In a November 2019 cover story with Net-A-Porter, Banks confessed, “I often feel judged for my choices, and people don’t always understand my decisions. However, I don’t believe I owe anyone an explanation.”

Banks, who struggled with embryo implantation and is unable to carry a pregnancy, emphasized, “If my experiences can make others feel less isolated on their journeys, I am thankful for that.”