By Kara Lewis
If you’ve been on the Internet this week, you’ve likely seen the rumors about Kylie Jenner. The question seemed to pop up everywhere: Is she pregnant or not?
According to a “source with knowledge of the situation,” yes. (But what does that even mean, BuzzFeed?) And according to the hundreds of people freaking out online, yes. Yet until Jenner herself speaks out, we should assume that the answer is no.
Of course, Jenner has built an empire on reality stardom, bestselling lip kits and a clothing line. She boasts 98 million Instagram followers. But underneath all of that— and regardless of how people feel about her personally—she’s a 20-year-old woman.
Here’s the bottom line: no one should have their pregnancy assumed, gossiped about, or judged. Of course, Internet commenters have already pushed this boundary, so here are my responses to some of their most common cringe-worthy reactions.
Reaction: “She and Travis Scott (Jenner’s boyfriend) have only been dating for five months!”
Response: “The length of a relationship doesn’t have anything to do with if two people are ready to have a child. People often get pregnant, give birth, and raise children outside of relationships or marriage. Regardless of how long they’ve been together, if Jenner and Scott are indeed expecting a child, they’ll decide how to co-parent.”
Reaction: “Can she financially support a child?!”
Response: This one’s easy. “Forbes estimates that Jenner’s net worth ranks at about $50 million, and the magazine named her the youngest high-earning celebrity this year.”
Reaction: “She’s just looking for attention, she’s a reality star.”
Response: “The two situations aren’t linked. Just because someone is proud of their career and open about their accomplishments, this does not mean they feel the same about their personal life.”
As media outlets continue to speculate and ask for comments, let’s remember one thing: Kylie Jenner isn’t obligated to tell us anything.