“There's no way in hell” she would expose her child to the media

Halle Bailey at the Essence Black Women Awards in Hollywood.

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Halle Bailey knows the importance of personal and professional boundaries. The actress and new mother spoke about her choice to keep her pregnancy and baby out of the spotlight while speaking at the conference essence Black women at the Hollywood Awards on Thursday.

“There was no way in hell I would share the greatest joy in my world with anyone,” Billie said, adding that her son, Halo, “was my gift, the greatest blessing and I had no obligation to expose him.” I or my family to those inexhaustible lights.

Billy's comments received a standing ovation from the audience.

the Little mermaid The actress revealed Halo's birth in a surprise announcement in January 2024, writing on Instagram that the baby is due sometime in 2023.

“Welcome to the world, Halti,” she added. “The world wants so much to know you.”

Besides announcing the baby's arrival, Billie has kept quiet about her life as a new mother – and she and her rapper boyfriend DDG have never announced they are expecting.

Billy was one of many honorees at essence The event is this week, which is hosted at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. The organization also honored Danielle Brooks, Catherine Busby, and Nkechi Okoro Carroll. The party was hosted by Cliff “Method Man” Smith.

“The intersection of joy and justice is where community thrives,” Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures, said in a statement. “We never need to underestimate our collective strength and achievements; Because of the work we still do to live fairly. The past year has experienced this intersection within one of our most sacred cultural realms. “While parts of the paradox have stabilized, there is still significant work to be done to create sustainable change,” she added.