R&B singer and songwriter Victoria Monet shared her experience of facing pressure to terminate her pregnancy during an appearance on Michelle Obama’s podcast. This revelation came after she found out she was pregnant with her daughter, Hazel, while navigating her career as an independent artist.
Monet, who earned a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and two additional awards in 2024, talked about how becoming a mother in 2021 impacted her career. She mentioned not everyone in her professional life rallied behind her decision to have a child.
The singer expressed the challenge of announcing her pregnancy. “As an independent artist in the UK, you start to see yourself as a business,” Monet explained. “It’s tricky to convey to a business partner that your pregnancy could slow down your work, but it’s also something to celebrate.”
Her story included an unsettling presentation she received from her business partners shortly after announcing her pregnancy. This presentation highlighted the challenges and costs associated with raising a child.
Reflecting on the experience, Monet described it as quite disheartening. “The intention behind their actions was good, but it hurt a lot,” she admitted. “The end of the meeting felt like an encouragement to consider an abortion, which was really painful for me.”
She characterized the whole situation as deeply emotional but noted it also ignited a determination within her to show that motherhood wouldn’t derail her career.
“After that meeting, I felt like I was still fighting the same battle I faced when I left home.” While she didn’t think the intention was to harm her, she wanted her colleagues to recognize that having children is a significant choice that influences one’s career.
Monet ultimately concluded that this episode brought her full circle since she wrote about motherhood in her song “My Mom.” Her daughter has become her greatest blessing. “I used to think that having a child would hinder my career or complicate things, but instead, it was a joy,” she said.
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