In some ways, Gabrielle Union was ready for the mommy shaming that ensued after welcoming her baby, Kaavia James Union Wade. The celebrity mom tells PEOPLE that it was necessary for her to say something when online trolls tried to shame her for wearing a hospital gown after her daughter’s birth among other things.
“I had to hit the mommy shamers day one,” Gabrielle reveals. “I’m going to do it my way,” the actress declares. “I’m sure I’m going to make all kinds of mistakes and when I ask for help, which I will, I would love to hear all y’all’s advice. Everybody has been on my journey of pain and anguish and trauma, and I owe it to myself to enjoy every second of my joy.”
Some critics had a problem with Gabrielle Union kissing Kaavia on the mouth a few weeks back. The mommy shamers took the time to share the dangers of such activity with Gabrielle. Thankfully for them, Union has grace and a sense of humor that gently corrects.
“Kaav is healthy and I don’t even touch her without washing and sanitizing myself and everything and everyone that comes into contact with her,” Gabrielle said to her critics. “No visits with sick folk and even all of Oprah’s crew got whooping cough vaccinations and current on all vaccinations to be in our home,” she added. “If you think I waited this long and went thru [sic] all this to put my baby in harm’s way… you got another thing coming.”
Why doesn’t Gabrielle Union just ignore the haters when it comes to her daughter? “I want to be able to make whatever choice I want to make and not have to answer to anybody but me,” the celebrity mom says. “As long as I feel good, as long as I feel confident, screw you. Look in the mirror and fix your own life. [I want to] give people that example of somebody who refuses to let anyone dictate what the hell I do or don’t do or say or don’t say.”
Kaavia James Union Wade is Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade’s only child together. The celebrity couple parents four kids in all.
