YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife Ashley ignited an issue by revealing their decision to terminate her pregnancy.
They announced in a June 2026 Instagram post that Ashley underwent an abortion because their unborn child received a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis. (Down syndrome can be generally known as Trisomy 21.)
“This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy as a consequence of Trisomy 21,” Jesse wrote via his Instagram Stories on June 3, 2026. “The selection was not made calmly. We actually appreciate all of the non-public stories that you just guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we receive from fans with irrespective of what we decided.”
An enormous outcry followed, with the Ridgways allegedly receiving death threats and other abuse via social media. The backlash grew so intense that Jesse revealed that he and Ashley began sleeping with a gun near their bed for safety.
Keep scrolling for a full timeline of the Ridgways’ relationship and their controversial decision to have an abortion:
Jesse Ridgway and Ashley Began Dating in 2019
In October 2019, Jesse Ridgway — who’s generally known as McJuggerNuggets on social media — went public along with his recent girlfriend, Ashley May, after 4 days of dating.
“[She’s] the girl of my dreams,” Jesse beamed in a vlog on the time. “Guys, I desired to do a separate sitdown video to handle the elephant within the room, which is: we’re dating! It’s official!”
The 2 originally met on Tinder.
Jesse Ridgway Proposed to Ashley in October 2024
The couple revealed in an October 2024 vlog that Jesse popped the query after dating Ashley for five years.
“Ashley and I are getting married … which is definitely pretty wild to say,” Jesse admitted. “Five years of dating guys … I kinda manifested every little thing. I called her the ‘girl of my dreams,’ and it was this cool, romantic video.”
Ashley and Jesse Ridgway Courtesy YouTube / McJuggerNuggets
Ashley revealed, “[He] even said per week into dating, just about, that we were going to get married and we were gonna have kids. Every week into dating!”
Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Got Married in October 2025
Jesse tied the knot with Ashley on October 06, 2025, in a sunset beach ceremony in Ocean City, Recent Jersey.
“We’re officially married,” Jesse announced in a subsequent vlog, with Ashley excitedly interjecting. “Holy crap!”
Jesse admitted that the newlyweds opted for a “run and gun” wedding where only a couple of family members knew ahead of time.
“This was super private,” he told viewers. “My whole life is public.”
Ashley added, “We just wanted something intimate.”
The Ridgways Confirmed They Were Expecting a Baby in March 2026
Ashley and Jesse shared via Instagram in March 2026 that they were expecting their first child. They couple posted a carousel of images of a sonogram, together with the caption, “BABY RIDGWAY – COMING FALL 2026.”
Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Shared Their Unborn Child’s Down’s Syndrome Diagnosis in a Vlog
In April 2026, Ashley and Jesse released a video where they learned on camera that their child had received a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis.
“We were so excited to have a good time the gender reveal in a Psycho video with you guys, but in true ‘art imitates life’ — fashion…there needed to be a dark twist,” Jesse wrote via Instagram in April. “The identical genetic testing that told us our baby could be a boy revealed to us that he had a 95 percent probability to be born with Down Syndrome.”
He went on, “Syndrome carries a really HIGH risk of miscarriage and typically comes with heart defects, structural abnormalities, developmental issues, shorter lifespan, etc.”
“As excited as we’re to turn into parents, this was a gut-punch … We would like one of the best for our first kid … and even putting Ashley in danger … so many questions and concerns,” he continued.
Jesse and Ashley Ridgway. Courtesy of Ashley Ridgeway / Instagram
On the time, Jesse said that he believed that the “down syndrome percentage is a fluke and our baby boy might be born with zero health problems.”
“We might be getting an amniocentesis in around a month to present us a definitive answer on the child’s health, until then we’ll just be keeping the religion that every little thing will work out OK,” he confirmed. “Thanks for being with us on this ride. Whatever happens, happens.”
The Ridgways Announced Their Decision to Terminate Ashley’s Pregnancy
A June 2026 post confirming that Ashley underwent an abortion was flooded with abusive comments and threats, including some accusing the Ridgways of “murder.”
“I do know a few of chances are you’ll be very dissatisfied to listen to this news. We’re devastated,” Jesse acknowledged within the June 3, 2026, Instagram post. “This has been extremely traumatic for each of us, especially Ashley.”
He shared that “every little thing went easily” with Ashley’s abortion procedure, though they each felt “drained.”
“Once I first confronted this news, I used to be shocked but optimistic. In the event that they’re a bit of slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work,” Jesse wrote. “I signed on to be a parent, come what may. I just didn’t fully understand what Down syndrome entailed.”
Jesse and Ashley’s views on carrying the kid to term modified once they learned in regards to the health complications that may include Down’s syndrome.
“I didn’t realize just how rough it’s for the kid, let alone the family,” the influencer wrote in his statement. “We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that as much as 90 percent of ladies terminate their pregnancy after learning the child has Trisomy 21. … You never think you’d be in such a situation until it happens to you after which things change.”
Jesse continued, “As for us, we made a difficult decision that we imagine within the long-run might be helpful for our family. Thankfully, we had a selection. It is going to take a bit of time to maneuver on, but we’re excited to try again in the longer term and hopefully have a greater final result.”
Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Took Safety Precautions Amid Death Threats
Appearing on TMZ Live to tell the tale June 5, 2026, Jesse and Ashley confirmed that they were taking death threats seriously.
“With the death threats and every little thing, it has been shocking,” Jesse said. “Close people to us are very judgmental. Religious-based [people] saying we’re going to burn in hell. ‘We need to die.’”
He went on, “We had a [security] gate installed. I even have a gun next to my nightstand since it’s been getting so ridiculous and [threats] have been coming to emails, DMs, you name it. We’ve seen the darkest side of humanity through this process.”
Despite the backlash, Ashley insisted that she didn’t regret her decision to have an abortion.
Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Addressed Quite a few Conspiracy Theories
Jesse engaged directly with detractors throughout the controversy, even attempting to debunk conspiracy theories that sprung up on social media.
“Ya’all can’t even keep your stories straight, it’s crazy,” he wrote on June 7. “Was she 6-months pregnant or 3-months pregnant? 18 weeks or 21 weeks? Was it a definitive Down Syndrome diagnosis or simply suspected? All the information has already been provided by us, but everyone just picks, chooses or makes s*** as much as fit their very own narrative.”
“As we creep further into the brainrot era of social media, people will forget learn how to even properly think for themselves. The conspiracy rabbit holes deepen as people begin to query if it was all real or fake…?” he added. “Zooming in on ultrasound pics and my wife’s belly? Web detectives putting in time beyond regulation only to find their very own tail. And we’re those with an issue… 🙄”
Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Revealed How Their Families Reacted to Abortion
In a June 8 Facebook video, Jesse and Ashley shared footage the night after her termination procedure.
“Was this your parents? That’s really sweet,” Ashley told her husband within the video. “It says, ‘Life is hard but so are you. This bracelet stands for the waves of life you’ve been through. … You may’t stop the waves but you may learn to ride them.’”
Loads of celebrities — each those with and without children — have opened up about having abortions through the years. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, tons of stars took to social media to specific their outrage over the choice. Cheryl Burke revealed that she had one when she […]
Nonetheless, the couple revealed that Ashley’s parents were “nowhere to be found” within the wake of the controversy.
“Some [in her family] even going so far as joining in on the bandwagon hate PUBLICLY, kicking her while she’s down at her lowest point,” Jesse claimed. “She has received text messages from her family accusing me of abuse and that I’m brainwashing her…issuing ultimatums that she must LEAVE ME IMMEDIATELY. Audacious s*** that can have your head-spinning due to delusion and lack of consideration.”
Jesse Ridgway Said the Hate He and Ashley Received Was Unprecedented
Jesse released a brand new statement to People on June 10 where he tried to supply more insight on why he and Ashley selected to abort her pregnancy.
“We were confronting the scenario of getting the child, and playing out every possible scenario about what it could seem like and the way we’d make it work, what happens in the event that they have these health problems, and want these surgeries,” Jesse insisted. “It was so real to us. I wish people could empathize with us, and know this wasn’t some black and white decision.”
The YouTuber admitted he and Ashley were totally unprepared for the avalanche of social media abuse they’d received.
“I’ve been making content for 20 years, so we’ve seen hate before. But to not this degree,” Jesse said. “Every second is a brand new death threat towards me and my wife. The quantity of personal support we’ve received can be overwhelming.”