Celebrity Parents Who’ve Opened Up About Gender Disappointment
From “full heaving” sobs to brief moments of reflection, many public figures are sharing their experiences with a feeling that resonates with countless parents—gender disappointment.
Whether it’s a former NFL spouse, a favorite from Bachelor Nation, or a well-known social media duo, these candid discussions are striking a chord with fans everywhere. Scroll down to discover which celebrities have opened up:
Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon Share Their Journey with Two Boys
In an August 2023 episode of “The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast,” Ashley Iaconetti revealed, “I felt significant gender disappointment with Dawson.”
“For me, it was like I won’t experience that sister-sister bond [with my kids],” she explained. “That really saddened me, though it didn’t last too long.”
When the couple later announced they were expecting another boy during an Amazon Live in February 2024, Ashley mentioned she felt “much less” concerned about the sex of baby No. 2.
“It’s amusing because I was much more affected by gender disappointment with Dawson. When we found out, I was upset for a day or two,” she shared during the livestream.
Jared Haibon had a brighter perspective. “The idea of having two boys is going to be so much fun,” he enthused, laughing, “It’s just going to be bumps and bruises. We’ll need helmets because it’s going to be constant chaos.”
Iaconetti acknowledged having “a brief moment” to come to terms with not having a baby girl, adding, “I honestly don’t care what the combination is now; I just want them to be close.”
Kylie Kelce’s ‘Full Heaving Cry’ Over Baby No. 2
Kylie Kelce was completely open during the debut episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast in December 2024. The mother of four confessed to crying “for a solid 30 minutes” upon discovering her second child would also be a girl after convincing herself she was having a boy.
“I’m not a fan of gender reveals because I believe there’s always some level of bias, whether you realize it or not,” she admitted. “When we found out we were having Ellie, and she was a girl, I cried for a full 30 minutes.”
Kylie and her husband, Jason Kelce, are parents to daughters Wyatt, Ellie, Bennett, and Finn.
“I’m not saying I was sad,” she clarified. “I’m talking about a full heaving cry for 30 minutes because I felt differently during the beginning of that pregnancy and somehow convinced myself subconsciously that it was a boy. So, when I heard it was a girl, I completely lost it.”
But all those tears? Eclipsed the moment she held her daughter.
“To be clear, I feel only a tiny bit of guilt over that because when we met Ellie, she was the sweetest, most wonderful little girl, and she still is,” Kylie said. “I always tell people we want healthy babies. Everyone assumes we had a fourth to try for a boy. I knew we were having another girl.”
Abby Howard and Matt Howard’s Heartfelt Revelation About Baby No. 3
Influencers Matt Howard and Abby Howard shared their honest feelings during an April 2026 episode of their “Unplanned Podcast” after learning they were expecting their third baby boy—a rainbow baby following the loss of their daughter, Emerson.
“I did experience gender disappointment,” Abby confessed. “For about 30 seconds. Maybe even less.”
With tears in her eyes, she continued, “I didn’t have a girl-sized void in my heart; I had an Emerson-sized void. Having another baby girl wouldn’t fill that. I see this as a sweet grace. It’s clear now that this baby won’t fill that gap.”
Matt shared his emotions as well. “We lost our daughter. I genuinely wished for a daughter,” he said, expressing his desire for Abby to experience being a girl mom. “More than anything, I want that for you. I want you to have a mini version of you,” he told her.
Yet, Matt also conveyed his excitement about becoming a father of three boys. “I’m so thrilled to have three boys. Coming from a family of three boys myself, we talked about how fun it is to have them.”
This story was compiled with the assistance of AI tools and edited by journalists.
