Pete Wentz says he denied pregnancy rumors to protect Ashlee and baby

In an email to MTV last week, musician Pete Wentz expressed regret over denials he issued last month when rumors first began circulating that his then-girlfriend, now wife, Ashlee Simpson Wentz was pregnant.  The couple has since confirmed that they are, indeed, expecting a baby in the fall; Their rationale in keeping the pregnancy a secret is one that nearly all parents can understand and appreciate.  Wrote Pete,

Every woman, no matter who they are or what they do for a living, has the right to wait at least 3 months before sharing this very personal news.  We wanted to wait until after the first trimester and get a clean bill of health from our doctors before confirming anything, just like any other couple.

Pete admitted that he was at first caught off guard by the barrage of questions the couple were facing, telling MTV that "being a boy I have no idea how to respond to such things and my first instinct was to protect her and the baby."  Although he wasn’t happy to deny something he knew to be true — Pete said it is a decision he stands by. 

It’s insane that you can’t let happy news brew in Hollywood. This wasn’t about press or anything. It was about the health of the baby and trying to find a way to be happy with what should be the most happy time of our lives in the middle of a press blitz. I apologize to anyone who felt misinformed but the truth is, the person and growing baby is who I felt most loyal to protect and defend.

Source:  MTV; Photo by Ilya Dreyvitser/WireImage.com

Comments

“Every woman, no matter who they are or what they do for a living, has the right to wait at least 3 months before sharing this very personal news.”

Very much agreed. He had every right to withhold the news…for very obvious reasons. It’s their own personal business.

- Ericka on June 1st, 2008

Good for him. He did what he had to do for his partner and he gets a pat on the back from me.

The media especially women “journalists” don’t seem to care about anything anymore, looking at everywoman for whoever doesn’t have a flat tummy.

It is about time that celebs start telling these people to take a hike!

- sleekraven on June 1st, 2008

I absolutely agree with the decision to deny the pregnancy until after the 1st trimester. I was pregnant once before, and told EVERYONE the day I found out. I ended up losing the baby around the 9th or 10th week and then had to call everybody and tell them. When I got pregnant with my daughter, we didn’t tell anyone until after the 1st trimester. I denied being pregnant to my own family until we got the all clear from the doctor!!

So to Pete and Ashley I would say please don’t worry about denying a pregnancy. With the way we’re all obsessed over celebrities, they don’t even get to keep something so joyous and personal as being pregnant any kid of private!!

- Rebecca on June 1st, 2008

Hmmm, she’s so young, its hard to imagine why they would be so worried, I thought they were keeping hush, hush because she comes from a conservative family and they wanted to wait until they were married.

But now that she canceled her tour, it makes me wonder…

- Ivey on June 1st, 2008

i love fall out boy. i wondered how pete would go from rocker to daddy/husband.
boy, did he do it with style.

protecting ashlee and baby from the press.
now THAT is an awesome man.

way to go pete. and congrats to you and ashlee.

- jen on June 1st, 2008

I completely understand wanting to keep a pregnancy private, especially during those early months, but it honestly seemed to me like they were using the “is she pregnant” buzz, not trying to avoid it.

- Nicole on June 1st, 2008

I don’t feel they have anything to apologize for. Sure, it’s nice that he feels he should and is, but they did nothing wrong.

They chose to keep something that is absolutely private just that…private. The press really had no business prying. Of course that’s what they do, but….

- Kate on June 1st, 2008

I don’t understand how this leaked. The wedding was a tip off of course but I think even before that the rumours were there. How come? Even now she doesn’t look pregnant.

- Sarita on June 1st, 2008

I support their decision 100% to wait until the second trimester before making it known to the public. It’s just too bad that someone they know probably leaked the information before they were ready to share the news with the world. Pete was obviously caught off guard and did not know quite how to handle the situation.

- Meghan on June 1st, 2008

I appreciate what he is saying and I understand his reason for denying the pregnancy until after her 1st. trim.
It always just makes me laugh though when they comment on how hard Hollywood is in intruding in personal lives and make it seem like they are living a hard life. By the looks of it they are living a damn good one.

- Lisa on June 2nd, 2008

He has nothing to apologize about. If media people, etc. could have been a little more patient, they would have made an announcement at some point when they were ready.

- Jen on June 2nd, 2008

He shouldn’t have to defend himself or Ashlee with their decision to wait until they knew she was out of the woods, though that is a very sweet thing to say. He seems like a very sweet man.

- Bobbi on June 2nd, 2008

Pete is going to be an awesome father. It already shows in the way he has handled himself so far. Ashlee and the baby are extremely lucky to have someone who loves them very much and wants to protect them from the start.

Congrats Ashlee and Pete!

- Casey on June 2nd, 2008

His reaction is perfectly understandable, he shouldn’t need to apologize for it

- Aelys on June 2nd, 2008

Sorry I have no idea who he is …. but I stand by his decision to keep their good news to themselves for at least 3 months. I for one would have felt awful if they would have admitted the pregnancy and then something unfortunate happened THEN they would have had to break that news ….. anyways what I’m trying to say is he is completely right. They had the right just like every other person to keep the joyous news to themselves until they were ready to included everyone. It’s shameful that he felt like he had to apologize for it because it should be completely understandable. I wish them the best of luck!

- Bancie1031 on June 2nd, 2008

I also 100% agree with their decision. Look at poor Lily Allen! It does happen sometimes, it happened to me and that was bad enough without having the worlds media watching.

PS- Ashlee’s really not that young! She’ll be 24 when the baby comes!

- Soph on June 2nd, 2008

He has nothing to apologize for. I think it was a smart decision. Ivey, although Ashley is young, first time pregnancies are at a higher risk for miscarriage. And miscarriages can happen for a lot of reasons. In any case, I’m excited for them! Can’t wait to see pictures of the baby; I’m sure it will be cute

- MB on June 2nd, 2008

I can completly understand why he wanted to keep it private. Its their business…period. No one needed to know.

By the time I was 23 I had already had 2 miscarriages. They happen at any age. Even being young.

I was never able to wait until 3 months. I’ve been pregnant 8 times and have 4 children. I always told people because I needed the prayers and the support. When I did lose the baby I had alot of support, instead of suffering quietly like it never happened.

- Courtney on June 2nd, 2008

I don’t think age has anything to do with it even though Ashley is 23 1/2 ( old enough), The decision to wait is a personal one and I am glad for them. As a nurse I know that complications can arise at anytime during a pregnancy and at any age. Celebrities have their whole lives on broadcast, and I commend these two young people for being responsible despite all the fame and fortune they have.

- Winter on June 2nd, 2008

Geez, when was 23 considered old?

I really love this couple. I was excited when I found out the two of them were dating and they have been faithful and committed to each other since. I’m so happy about the pregnancy and I love everything Pete said in this e-mail. They’re going to be great parents!

- Stephany on June 2nd, 2008

I think it came from a variety of factors including the fact that they have (and continue to have) a right to keep private what they wish to keep private and the seemingly conservative nature of the Simpson family and the probably really tense situation of having an unplanned (I’m guessing) pregnancy and quick wedding (seemingly a li’l shotgun right about now). That said, a simple “no comment” always works as does saying absolutely nothing. No need to proactively lie – but again, their business.

- Jen DC on June 2nd, 2008

A miscarriage can happen at anytime during pregnancy even though the early months are when it happens the most. What if God forbid the baby is stillborn?
The thing is if Ashlee did miscarriage there is a chance the media would’ve found out anyway. So to keep telling the media “No comment” you are not shielding yourself from anything. The only way to protect your privacy is to keep out of the public eye.

- Lindsay on June 2nd, 2008

Just wanted to point out that they waited WAY longer than the first trimester, if in fact she’s due with a “fall baby,” as they said. She’s got to be four or five months– meaning Ivey’s earlier comment about the “conservative family” angle is much more accurate. The way the announcements were rolled out (wedding, name change, then baby news) clearly point to a targeted strategy designed to take the “premarital sex” aspect out of it.

It just seems silly that Pete Wentz should have to cover this up by claiming to be “protecting his baby.” The ENTIRE thing seemed contrived by Joe Simpson, in my opinion.

- Lauren on June 2nd, 2008

Well done for him to protect her like that! I love how he explains his decision. I appreciate him apologizing for lying, too, but I agree it was necessary b/c everyone would have taken a “no comment” to be a confirmation.

I didn’t tell my family I was pregnant until after my 12 week ultrasound and test results came back good, and didn’t tell anyone else until after my 20-wk ultrasound showed everything was OK. It would have been too painful to “untell” people. Of course, I didn’t have anyone asking me outright if I was pregnant!

- Sami on June 3rd, 2008