Ellie Gonsalves went viral earlier last year after she shared her list of 118 reasons why she doesn’t want children on social media.
And the Australian actress and model says she received a lot of backlash from parents who were upset by her candid comments.
“Conversion therapy is starting to happen,” the 34-year-old says in this week’s issue Stellar magazine.
“It’s like people get offended because I say I don’t want to live their lives, and then they go into this defensive mode and try to change my mind.”
Speaking about her own reasons for remaining childfree, Ellie, who is married to film producer Ross Scutts, said: ‘My husband and I have worked very, very hard for peace.’
Ellie Gonsalves (pictured) went viral earlier last year after she shared her list of 118 reasons why she doesn’t want children on social media. And the Australian actress and model says she received a lot of backlash from parents who were upset by her candid comments
‘Now we just don’t want to disturb that peace. Bringing another human into our dynamic would change that tremendously, and I don’t want to play second banana to a baby,” she added.
Ellie recently shared some of the troll responses she’s received via her Instagram DMs after listing 118 reasons why she doesn’t want kids.
She posted a screenshot of a message she received on Instagram Stories that read: “You’ll probably die alone without anyone by your side.”
Ellie replied, “What will stop you from dying alone? Lol: Having children is not an insurance policy against loneliness. Get some friends for God’s sake’.
“Conversion therapy is starting to happen,” the 34-year-old says in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine. “It’s like people get offended because I say I don’t want to live their lives, and then they go into this defense mode and try to change my mind.”
The Australian reality star told The Project that she is not fascinated by the anger and believes it is important for women to discuss the issue openly.
“I think the reaction that comes with someone being so honest and outspoken about it is terrifying for people,” she said.
“I thought it was really strange that people aren’t talking about it, but you see what’s happened in the last 24 hours since I shared this list and it’s literally been on every major news channel in Australia.
“So the reaction that comes with that, the vilification and the judgment, I think is frightening for a lot of people.”
Despite the criticism, Ellie stands firm in the hope that she can help other women.
Speaking about her own reasons for remaining childfree, Ellie, who is married to film producer Ross Scutts, said: ‘My husband and I have worked very, very hard for peace’
“I’ve been called everything under the sun throughout my career and it’s like water off a duck’s back to me. But for a lot of people it’s very scary,” she said.
“So if I’m that person who can have a voice and make people feel seen and heard, who feel the same way I do, then that’s great.”
The actress said she was inspired to start her own list after seeing a TikTok user Girl With The List go viral on the video platform with her own collection of reasons.
Ellie previously broke her silence about the backlash she received over her controversial list.
She divided the internet after sharing 118 reasons why she doesn’t want kids to appear on Instagram.
What followed was a wave of hatred against the actress.
“I’ve already received hundreds of DMs criticizing me, telling me how horrible and broken I am. But many of these fears/thoughts ARE real,” she shared Mommy.
‘They resonate not only with me, but with so many other women. A lot of them are small things that contribute to a much bigger picture.”
She added that the messages she received questioning the list only furthered her resolve, as they showed that some people felt threatened by others choosing to live an alternative lifestyle.
‘They further illustrate my premise: people are sold a certain life, and when they see others choose a different path, the frustration lies with themselves.’
Ellie then said that she had also received several positive messages from fans praising her for expressing her desire to remain child-free.
Ellie has opened up about being childfree by choice, revealing she received a slew of nasty DMs when she shared the list on Instagram on Sunday. Pictured: Ellie and her husband Ross Scutts
“It was nice to read hundreds of comments from people who feel seen, people who have also had awkward moments where others questioned their choice and the only thing that made them feel terrible or uncomfortable,” she said.
The Australian model and actress sent her followers into a frenzy after posting the list on social media.
Among the reasons she mentioned were hair loss after childbirth, the baby may poop inside you, your vagina will be different, your house will never be tidy, childbirth can cause rectal prolapse and you will miss things you enjoy doing.
‘WWhile some of those things on my list are satirical, many things are serious and factual. “Societal pressure when it comes to this topic is really questionable and I think it’s unfair to people with different opinions,” she said of the list.
“I’ve already received hundreds of DMs criticizing me and telling me how horrible and broken I am. But many of these fears/thoughts ARE real,” she said
“Very rarely do we see a voice supporting this because let’s face it, the public backlash can be too great,” the influencer added.
Ellie married her long-term partner, entrepreneur Ross Scutts, in two luxurious ceremonies in March.
The official wedding took place at La Luna floating beach club on the Gold Coast in an intimate toi et moi wedding.
They followed it up with a second luxurious gathering where they invited their bridal party and other guests.
The couple, who have been together for fifteen years, have spoken out about the fact that they do not want to have children.
Ellie married her long-term partner, entrepreneur Ross Scutts, in two luxurious ceremonies in March. The couple has been together for 15 years