Actress Gabrielle Union, 52, has opened up about the emotional complexities of her surrogacy journey, describing it as a deeply personal struggle marked by feelings of failure and public scrutiny. In a candid interview with Marie Claire, Union shared her experiences leading up to the birth of her daughter, Kaavia James, via surrogate in November 2018.
A Personal Struggle with Societal Expectations
Union revealed that choosing surrogacy was not an easy decision. After enduring multiple miscarriages and being diagnosed with adenomyosis, she faced the harsh reality of her fertility challenges. “There’s nothing more that I wanted than to cook my own baby,” she admitted. “The idea of [using a surrogate] felt like surrendering to failure.”
The actress also expressed concern about societal perceptions. “People want to see the bump, hear that you got hemorrhoids—they want to know you’re like them,” she said. “I was like, ‘This is going to seem like the most Hollywood sh*t ever. Will I be embraced as a mom?’ It’s terrifying.”
Navigating Emotional Turmoil
Union’s emotional journey was further complicated by her husband’s, NBA star Dwyane Wade, ability to have children easily. “The experience of Dwyane having a baby so easily—while I was unable to—left my soul not just broken into pieces, but shattered into fine dust scattering in the wind,” she confessed.