New parents Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder took to Twitter Saturday with a public apology.
The Twilight star, 29, and The Vampire Diaries actor, 38, addressed the controversy stemming from an interview where they discussed their first pregnancy.
In an interview with Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy Podcast, the pair revealed that the actor threw out Reed’s birth control pills – while she was watching.
“To anyone who has been affected by reproductive coercion, we are deeply sorry,” the couple wrote in a joint statement on Twitter. “That is an extremely serious issue, and women’s rights is something that is incredibly important to both of us. It is something we’ve been very vocal about, and something that is very close to our hearts.”
“We never expected a lighthearted interview we did poking fun at EACH OTHER and how WE chose together to get pregnant,” they continued. “A goofy moment in Barcelona with our two best friends and the anticipation of our journey together as we went from two to three, to turn into something representing a very serious matter.“
“However, if this somehow sheds light on a topic that definitely needs mainstream attention, then we are grateful for the unintended consequence,” they added. “It’s a shame that outlets chose this as their way into a very serious discussion, as we are certainly not qualified to be the faces of this topic.”
The added: “We are two happily married people who chose TOGETHER to have a baby. The end. Love, Nikki and Ian.”
During the interview, the actor boasted about throwing out his wife’s birth control pills.
“It was the beginning of the pack, so I had to pop all those suckers out,” Somerhalder said.
And then the online backlash began.
“When you actually listen to the podcast (which I’m sure you didn’t) you’ll hear how ‘unforced’ I felt,” wrote Reed. “Ha! Also, ‘unconsented’ bull—- is you speaking on my behalf in a story admittedly taken out of context for the purpose of stirring up drama WITHOUT my approval. ”
The actress continued, “Don’t talk about consent to me. And lastly, how dare you try to cast a dark shadow over one of the happiest most memorable days of my life – you’re not only disrespecting me but my baby.”
“Oh, and next time you try to stand up for women by writing an article ‘about women’s rights,’ try properly conveying the way I felt,” Reed added. “It’s a shame that this was your way in. You have a platform, write about things that matter by using truthful stories, not gossip.”
She also wrote, “We should be talking about these things, but using a funny interview between married ppl & twisting it to perpetuate gossip is irresponsible.”
Reed and Somerhalder welcomed their first child, daughter Bodhi Soleil, on July 25.
A note from us… pic.twitter.com/3WNmrGYS7M
— Nikki Reed (@NikkiReed_I_Am) September 23, 2017
