Jack Whitehall has received backlash after using the words ‘pregnant people’ in an Instagram post.
The 35-year-old actor and comedian recently welcomed his first kid with girlfriend Roxy Horner, and the couple is adjusting to new parenthood and life with a newborn.
The father-of-one claims to be interested in creating a TV programme about being a parent, but the response to his request for participation has been less than ideal.
On Tuesday, the actor revealed on social media that he was seeking for other couples expecting a baby in order to give them the opportunity to feature on a TV show.
Instead of individuals joyfully tagging friends who would be great for the planned televised antenatal class, the comments section was inundated with criticism over Jack’s usage of the phrases ‘pregnant people’ and ‘birth partners’.
In a call to action posted by Jack, the title read: ‘Calling all pregnant people & birth partners,’ going on to ask for expectant couples to attend a filmed antenatal class ‘for a major entertainment service.’
The ‘fun, informative and free class … will cover the basics of birth and beyond.’
Jack wrote in a caption alongside the post: ‘We’re looking for Lonodn-based pregnant couples to take part in a show I’m doing. Would love to hear from you!’
Commenters took issue with the choice of the term “tosser” instead of “women,” and vitriol poured in, with one calling the new dad a “tosser,” another a “woke tosser,” and yet another a “absolute sap.”
‘Pregnant people, ffs,’ one angry person wrote, another saying: ‘Oh p**s off, they’re f****** women!’
Countless comments simply read: ‘PREGNANT WOMEN.’
The phrase pregnant individuals is commonly used to encompass trans males and non binary people who may be able to become pregnant while not identifying as female.
However, the term may enrage others who believe that using the word ‘people’ erases women.
Jack deleted the post less than an hour after it was published and has yet to respond to the reaction.
The Fresh Meat star and his partner Roxy, 32, had their first child, a daughter named Elsie, in September.
Jack has frequently written about parenting, from watching football while changing his ‘first-ever nappy,’ to noting that he and Roxy had very different opinions about what to do with their daughter’s umbilical chord.
