Family Is Personal: Why Celebs Deserve Privacy Like Anyone Else

Editor's note: Quotes have been edited for clarity.

In today’s world, where social media has made personal moments more public than ever, celebrities often find themselves in a constant push or pull with their public personas and the need for privacy. On one end of the spectrum is 'I just simply wanted to know’, and on the other is being intrusive. And yes, we also want to know! We believe there's warmth and magic in family stories. 

Our content captures moments, journeys, and lessons--including those that resonate with most of us, celebrity or not, like getting pregnant or giving birth. But every story we tell and retell is wrapped in respect. We simply share what families feel comfortable sharing.

But we, the public, have somehow developed a ‘need to know’ culture in which we assume that celebrities and public personalities owe us their life events—’bakit naman 'di tayo na-inform?’ 

Recent examples like Maja Salvador choosing not to show her baby’s face, Dominique Cojuangco requesting the public not to take photos of her baby, and Ellen Adarna Ramsay keeping her pregnancy under wraps highlight a broader discussion about the right to privacy in family, and why we should respect their decisions.

Also Read: Ellen Adarna Gives Birth, Derek Ramsay Announces On Instagram

Yet, for most of us, we can’t seem to comprehend it—as one netizen comments, "Bakit kaya ang ibang artista kakalabas lang ng baby nila, ipinakita na sa publiko ang itsura gaya nalang ni Ma'am Dianne Medina, Yasmien Kurdi? Eh ang iba pina-bitin pa ang fans nila, may paa lang ipinapakita, minsan kamay lang or side view lang. Ano kaya ang purpose nun?" 

Netizens can even go as far as speculating, like in this comment: “Baka may something kaya ayaw ipakita. Or we immediately pass judgment, “Arte!! Akala mo naman magbabago ang hitsura 'pag pinakita.”

“'Di naman maganda si maja lalo na asawa niya....”

Unfathomable yet undeniable, even babies are subject to harsh commentary—“Baka hindi pa cute,” said one netizen. “Pansinin niyo yung side view ng mukha parang may mali,” said another. "Baka bingot," speculates another one.

It is unfortunate that we’ve been here before—when Luis Manzano chose to cover his baby’s face with a rose, it was a reminder that we are mere guests—and yet, here we are. We still don't seem to get it.

Children, especially newborns, don’t have the ability to consent to being in the spotlight, which is why many parents—whether they’re famous or not—are now more mindful about what they share.

The right to privacy in family life

Maja's decision to keep her baby’s face private, Dominique’s request not to have her baby photographed, and Ellen's choice to remain mum about her pregnancy all point to one thing: they are asserting their right to protect their personal lives, particularly, their kids'. Parenting, in particular, is a deeply private and personal journey. While celebrities are often thrust into the limelight, this doesn't mean they should forfeit their right to privacy when it comes to their families, especially their children.

It’s like a beautiful garden—we're happy to enjoy the view from the outside, and public personalities are happy to share the view with us, but they have the right to lock the gate if they have to. And we get the logic right? Or do we? We can’t just bang on the gates and demand them to open it for us nor climb the walls just to smell the flowers and feel the grass.

Children of celebrities are innocent bystanders amid the public's insatiable thirst for information. Children, especially newborns, don’t have the ability to consent to being in the spotlight, which is why many parents—whether they’re famous or not—are now more mindful about what they share.

In a digital age, children are easy prey for online predators and pedophiles and thus we cannot blame Maja, for example, if she chose to show her baby's body parts but keeps her child’s face hidden. Similarly, Dominique has publicly asked for respect and understanding from her followers, emphasizing that her child’s right to anonymity is just as important as her own. They may be public personalities, but they are also mothers—mothers whose maternal instinct is to protect the young.

“If you see me out with my child, please don’t take a photo. Her privacy is so important to me,” Dominique appealed to her followers in an Instagram story recently.

Parenting in the public eye

While it’s easy to forget, celebrities are still human beings who deserve the same level of privacy as anyone else. Parenting, no matter your status, is an intimate and personal experience. From sleepless nights to the joys of baby milestones, every parent—famous or not—deserves to make their own choices without the pressure of public scrutiny.

When other people try to question or comment on our decision when it comes to parenting—the food we pick for our babies, the kind of toys we buy them, our approach in raising them, our house rules, screen time rules—it can be annoying. When they offer unsolicited advice about child rearing, we feel like we’re being attacked. Celebrities, humans like everyone else, probably feel the exact same way we do. So we really can’t blame them if they clapback like the way Andi Eigenmann addressed the criticism thrown at her by a netizen. She replied on Instagram, “Someone somewhere on the Internet told us to put her in school instead of letting her surf…she's doin' both, and excelling in both, thanks very much.”

Related Read: Andi Eigenmann Asks Fans For Privacy: ‘Hindi Po Pinatayo ‘Yung Bahay Para Pasukin!’

The way we talk about and judge celebrity parents can be a reflection of how we view parenting in general. Self-check! When we criticize or demand to know every detail of a celebrity's family life, aren’t we imposing unrealistic standards of transparency? Do we even demand from our friends or loved ones their life events? Their children’s milestones? Their children’s photos?

Celebrities often deal with the consequences of these pressures—whether it’s through public judgment, unsolicited advice, or harmful commentary about their parenting choices, including their children. For parent netizens viewing a fellow-parent's content, aren’t we supposed to speak in a language parents would understand?

It’s crucial for us, as fans and followers, to understand that while we might feel a sense of connection to these stars, we don’t have a right to invade their privacy in the name of curiosity.

Social Media and the 'Need to Know' Culture

Social media has drastically shifted how we perceive celebrities and their families. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow fans to feel like they’re intimately connected with their favorite stars. But with this access comes an implicit expectation: that everything about a celebrity’s life is for consumption.

The common argument that gets tossed around is that if celebrities don’t want their private lives exposed, they shouldn’t be celebrities—simple as that. But is it that simple?

Even though they attract the public eye, not everything should be for public consumption. Celebrities, not only Maja, Dominique, and Ellen, have every right to control how much of their private lives are shared with the world. Whether it’s choosing not to reveal their child’s face or opting not to announce a pregnancy until they wish to, these are deeply personal decisions. It’s crucial for us, as fans and followers, to understand that while we might feel a sense of connection to these stars, we don’t have a right to invade their privacy in the name of curiosity.

In celebrities’ defense, some parents do get it. One netizen comments, “Kami nga na hindi sikat, hindi namin ipinapakita anak namin eh. Dahil ung asawa ko, ayaw niya dahil maraming child predators sa social media, kahit walang ka-muwang-muwang na bata pinagnanasaan, 'wag maraming kuda kung hindi nila ipinapakita ang anak nila.”

Another writes, “Some artists choose not to show their kids in public to protect their kids from evil eye. Hindi ho porket artista, obligated na to reveal every detail of their life. It's their child, choice nila kung ipakita nila o hindi. Wag ho tayong mga entitled at feeling may karapatan.”

“Karapatan naman nila yun bilang magulang, ipakita man nila o hindi. Masyado lang talaga big deal sa iba, makapag-demand akala mo sila magulang,” another netizen said.

A call to mind our own parenting

Perhaps one of the most important takeaways from this is to focus on our own parenting.

Let's mind our own parenting and respect the choices of others, regardless of their public status. Just as we wouldn’t appreciate strangers questioning our parenting decisions or demanding to see our children’s faces, celebrities also deserve that same level of respect.

To share or not to share? How important is privacy? Read here.