Influencer couple Jesse<\/strong> and Ashley Ridgway<\/strong> revealed that they started sleeping next to a gun due to the backlash over their decision to terminate her pregnancy<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the death threats and everything, it has been shocking,\u201d Jesse, 33, admitted on the Friday, June 5, episode of TMZ Live<\/a>. \u201cClose people to us are very judgmental. Religious-based [people] saying we\u2019re going to burn in hell. \u2018We deserve to die.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n He confirmed, \u201cWe had a [security] gate installed. I have a gun next to my nightstand because it\u2019s been getting so ridiculous and [threats] have been coming to emails, DMs, you name it. We\u2019ve seen the darkest side of humanity through this process.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesse and Ashley, 31, announced they were expecting their first baby boy in March before finding out in a vlog<\/a> that he had \u201ca 95 percent chance to be born with Down syndrome.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe were so excited to celebrate the gender reveal in a Psycho video with you guys, but in true \u2018art imitates life\u2019-fashion \u2026 there had to be a dark twist,\u201d Jesse wrote via Instagram<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Jesse shared via Instagram that he and Ashley chose to terminate her pregnancy because of potential complications associated with Down syndrome (a.k.a Trisomy 21).<\/p>\n \u201cI know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated,\u201d Jesse wrote. \u201cThis has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.\u201d<\/p>\n He confirmed that \u201ceverything went smoothly\u201d with Ashley\u2019s abortion but the couple struggled with the emotional toll of making such a heartbreaking decision.<\/p>\n \u201cTrisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch. The odds of a baby having it is 1 in 100,\u201d he noted. \u201cWhen I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they\u2019re a little slow intellectually, then we\u2019ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may. I just didn\u2019t fully understand what Down syndrome entailed.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesse told his followers that his and Ashley\u2019s decision to terminate was informed by learning more about the kind of life their baby might face with Down syndrome.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family,\u201d the YouTuber wrote. \u201cWe spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90 percent of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21. \u2026 You never think you\u2019d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesse concluded, \u201cAs for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n While many of the influencer\u2019s fans sent well-wishes, Jesse later admitted he\u2019d \u201cnever seen such hate and vitriol for two people<\/a> grieving the loss of their unborn child and making an impossible decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Jesse and Ashley Ridgway<\/span> Courtesy Instagram \/ Jesse Ridgway<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-narrow.jpg\")
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