March 28, 2024

Hollywood’s surrogacy boom

There is a baby boom in Hollywood and celebrity surrogacy is “front and centre”, according to the Toronto Sun. Among the celebrities using surrogate mothers are Elton John, Ricky Martin, Nicole Kidman and Neil Patrick Harris. Is this boom becoming a worldwide trend? Dr Stuart Fischoff, a leading media psychologist, says it might be.

There is a baby boom in Hollywood and celebrity surrogacy is “front and centre”, according to the Toronto Sun. Among the celebrities using surrogate mothers are Elton John, Ricky Martin, Nicole Kidman and Neil Patrick Harris. Is this boom becoming a worldwide trend? Dr Stuart Fischoff, a pop psychologist with a lot of experience in Hollywood, says it might be. After all, he comments, a baby bump is not for everyone:

 “…the ones who can’t afford the risks of pregnancy or carrying to term, or of losing precious time from their burgeoning careers, or who might find it hard getting into fighting shape and sloughing off weight again, then off-the-shelf (adoption: Madonna and Brangelina) or right from the factory (surrogacy: Kidman, Bassett, Sara Jessica Parker) might be just what the doctor ordered.”

“Celebrities can afford the same luxury of avoiding bearing and birthing and not have to worry about societal clucking.”

Dr Hilary Hanafin, of the Center for Surrogate Parenting in California, says that celebrity surrogacy is just a reflection of greater acceptance of surrogacy in the broader community. He projects a very positive view of women who bear other people’s children: “Surrogate mothers see this as an opportunity to help bring the joy of parenting to those less fortunate – even if they are famous, the loss is felt by the surrogate who volunteers.”

However Dr Fischoff says that celebrities help to create a climate of acceptance: “The metrics for appearances and choices are measured today in coolness, not morality. This is a celebrity-obsessed world so what they do may set trends for each other and for us mere mortals.” ~ Toronto Sun, Aug 16

Jared Yee
surrogacy