Lily Collins and her husband, director Charlie McDowell, have joyfully announced the birth of their first child, a daughter named Tove Jane McDowell, born via surrogate.
The couple shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of their newborn in a cot with a blanket embroidered with her name.
They expressed their “endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate” and thanked “everyone who helped us along the way.”
Following the announcement, while many fans and friends offered congratulations, some individuals criticized the couple’s decision to use surrogacy.
One wrote: “Surrogacy harms impoverished women. People unable to conceive have the option of adopting millions of children that don’t have homes. Renting the uteruses of women is immoral and should not be legal.”
Another angrily penned: “You’re not a Mother, you’re a buyer!” A third person added: “Motherhood is not a human right, there are other options to have a child like adoption!! Babies CAN’T be bought!!”
In response, McDowell addressed the negative comments, stating: “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.
“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.
In response to his passionate defence, Lily commented a series of love-heart emojis, while other followers referred to his words as “perfect”. While he did not reveal the reason behind their decision to go with a surrogate, Lily has spoken about how she suffered with an eating disorder in the past.
The couple, who began dating in 2019, became engaged in September 2020 and married in September 2021. They have maintained a relatively private relationship, occasionally sharing glimpses into their personal lives on social media.
The name Tove is of Scandinavian origin, meaning “beloved” or “beautiful.” Collins and McDowell have previously expressed admiration for Scandinavian culture, having spent their honeymoon touring Norway and Sweden, and owning a home in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The couple’s announcement has been met with an outpouring of support from friends and fans alike, celebrating the arrival of baby Tove.
