Influencer says she had an abortion to avoid 'monetizing the pregnancy'

An influencer with millions of followers on social media has revealed she had an abortion after claiming her boyfriend allegedly wanted to "monetize" their pregnancy.

Key Takeaways:

• McKinley Richardson is an online influencer with millions of followers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

• She previously was in a relationship with another online content creator, Jack Doherty.

• Richardson said she was terrified after becoming pregnant, and alleged that Doherty wanted to "monetize" her pregnancy.

• She had an abortion, claiming Doherty was abusive and controlling.

The Details:

In an interview with Camilla Araujo, an internet personality, Richardson discussed her relationship with Doherty, claiming he prioritized filming even in horrible situations. During one livestream, she said he refused to stop streaming even as she was robbed at gunpoint.

"He said, 'You're gonna wake up to all these TikToks tomorrow. And I just remember thinking, everything is content to him — even this," she said. "I realized he didn't care. The guy who once made me feel protected was gone. I was just content."

She also claimed he would mix Adderall and alcohol, which made him erratic and unpredictable. Eventually, she alleged that he pressured her into joining OnlyFans, where creators often post pornographic content, and that she also signed a contract giving him control of her career, including her OnlyFans and social media accounts. When she learned she was pregnant, she was not happy.

“My first thought was, my life is over,” she said. “I wasn’t excited. I was terrified.”

When she told Doherty, she said his first thought was how he could use the pregnancy for financial benefit. “He wasn’t excited to be a dad,” she said. “He was excited about the money. He said a family YouTube channel would blow up.”

To prevent her from leaving him, she claimed Doherty would belittle her, saying no one would want to date her if she were raising another man's child. So she chose to have an abortion. “He didn’t care about me,” she said. “He cared about how I could benefit him.”

Mckinley's Story (The Truth of Jack Doherty) Pt. 2

Why It Matters:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which may be why Richardson is sharing her story now. While there is no doubt that she is better off for having left an alleged toxic relationship, abortion was not necessary to do so.

Abortion does not solve women's problems. In fact, it can often make them worse. As an abortionist has previously said:

Abortion is something that we as women have to do to survive in this world… In some situations you see it as a Band-Aid solution. Often a woman will come in with so many issues, troubles, and problems with her life, and she needs so much. And all we can offer her is a sensitive, good abortion, quality abortion medically, emotionally, and psychologically. But it’s clear that so many of the women who come here need so much more.

Richardson robbed her preborn child of their inherent right to life because she was in an allegedly unhealthy relationship. Her child paid the price for his or her father's sins, and what's worse, she is framing it as a solution to the millions of impressionable people who follow her.

The Bottom Line:

Studies have found higher risks of suicidal ideation, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression among women who have abortions, in addition to the physical risks. Abortion is not a solution to domestic abuse; women deserve access to safety and resources that can help them escape their abusers, without having to sacrifice the lives of their preborn children.