Influencer Jesse Ridgway and Wife Ashley’s Relationship Timeline

Controversy erupted when YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife Ashley publicly shared their decision to end Ashley’s pregnancy.

In June 2026, the couple announced on Instagram that Ashley had an abortion after their unborn child was diagnosed with fetal Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21.

Jesse explained on June 3, 2026, via his Instagram Stories, “This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21. The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we receive from fans with no matter what we decided.”

Following their announcement, a significant backlash ensued, with the Ridgways reportedly receiving death threats and being subjected to social media abuse. The situation intensified to the point where Jesse revealed that he and Ashley started keeping a gun near their bed for protection.

Keep scrolling for a detailed timeline of the Ridgways’ relationship and their controversial decision to have an abortion:

Jesse Ridgway and Ashley Started Dating in 2019

In October 2019, Jesse Ridgway, known as McJuggerNuggets online, went public with his new girlfriend, Ashley May, just four days into their relationship.

“[She’s] the girl of my dreams,” Jesse expressed in a vlog at that time. “Guys, I wanted to do a separate sitdown video to address the elephant in the room, which is: we’re dating! It’s official!”

The couple originally met on Tinder.

Jesse Ridgway Proposed to Ashley in October 2024

The couple shared in an October 2024 vlog that Jesse proposed to Ashley after five years of dating.

“Ashley and I are getting married… which is actually pretty wild to say,” Jesse confessed. “Five years of dating guys… I kinda manifested everything. I called her the ‘girl of my dreams,’ and it was this cool, romantic video.”

Ashley shared, “[He] even said a week into dating, pretty much, that we were going to get married and we were gonna have kids. A week into dating!”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Got Married in October 2025

Jesse married Ashley on October 6, 2025, in a private sunset beach ceremony in Ocean City, New Jersey.

“We’re officially married,” Jesse announced in a subsequent vlog, as Ashley excitedly added, “Holy crap!”

Jesse noted they chose a “run and gun” wedding with only a few loved ones informed in advance.

“This was super private,” he explained to viewers. “My whole life is public.”

Ashley added, “We just wanted something intimate.”

The Ridgways Confirmed They Were Expecting a Baby in March 2026

In March 2026, Ashley and Jesse announced via Instagram that they were expecting their first child. They shared a series of sonogram images with the caption, “BABY RIDGWAY – COMING FALL 2026.”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Shared Their Unborn Child’s Down’s Syndrome Diagnosis in a Vlog

In April 2026, the couple released a video revealing the fetal Down syndrome diagnosis of their child.

“We were so excited to celebrate the gender reveal in a Psycho video with you guys, but in true ‘art imitates life’ fashion…there had to be a dark twist,” Jesse wrote on Instagram in April. “The same genetic testing that told us our baby would be a boy revealed to us that he had a 95 percent chance to be born with Down Syndrome.”

He continued, “Syndrome carries a very HIGH risk of miscarriage and usually comes with heart defects, structural abnormalities, developmental issues, shorter lifespan, etc.”

“As excited as we are to become parents, this was a gut-punch… We want the best for our first kid… and even putting Ashley at risk… so many questions and concerns,” he added.

At that time, Jesse expressed hope, saying he believed the “down syndrome percentage is a fluke and our baby boy will be born with zero health problems.”

“We will be getting an amniocentesis in around a month to give us a definitive answer on the baby’s health, until then we’ll just be keeping the faith that everything will work out OK,” he confirmed. “Thanks for being with us on this ride. Whatever happens, happens.”

The Ridgways Announced Their Decision to Terminate Ashley’s Pregnancy

A June 2026 post confirming Ashley’s abortion was met with abusive comments and threats, including accusations of “murder.”

“I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated,” Jesse confessed in his June 3, 2026, Instagram post. “This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.”

He noted that although the procedure went smoothly, both felt “drained.”

“When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work,” Jesse wrote. “I signed on to be a parent, come what may. I just didn’t fully understand what Down syndrome entailed.”

Their perspective changed after learning more about the potential health issues associated with Down syndrome.

“I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family,” Jesse explained. “We spoke with doctors, friends, family, and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90 percent of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21. … You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change.”

Jesse added, “As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome.”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Took Safety Precautions Amid Death Threats

On June 5, 2026, Jesse and Ashley addressed the death threats on TMZ Live, stating they were taking them seriously.

“With the death threats and everything, it has been shocking,” Jesse remarked. “Close people to us are very judgmental. Religious-based [people] saying we’re going to burn in hell. ‘We deserve to die.’”

He continued, “We had a [security] gate installed. I have a gun next to my nightstand because it’s been getting so ridiculous and [threats] have been coming to emails, DMs, you name it. We’ve seen the darkest side of humanity through this process.”

Despite the backlash, Ashley stood firm in her decision, stating she did not regret having an abortion.

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Addressed Numerous Conspiracy Theories

Throughout the controversy, Jesse actively engaged with critics and attempted to debunk conspiracy theories circulating on social media.

“Ya’all can’t even keep your stories straight, it’s crazy,” he wrote on June 7. “Was she 6-months pregnant or 3-months pregnant? 18 weeks or 21 weeks? Was it a definitive Down Syndrome diagnosis or just suspected? All the info has already been provided by us, but everyone just picks, chooses or makes s*** up to fit their own narrative.”

“As we creep further into the brainrot era of social media, people will forget how to even properly think for themselves. The conspiracy rabbit holes deepen as people start to question if it was all real or fake…?” he added. “Zooming in on ultrasound pics and my wife’s belly? Internet detectives putting in overtime only to discover their own tail. And we’re the ones with a problem… 🙄”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Revealed How Their Families Reacted to Abortion

In a Facebook video on June 8, Jesse and Ashley shared footage from the night after her abortion procedure.

“Was this your parents? That’s really sweet,” Ashley remarked to her husband in the video. “It says, ‘Life is tough, but so are you. This bracelet stands for the waves of life you’ve been through. … You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to ride them.’”

However, the couple revealed that Ashley’s parents were “nowhere to be found” amid the controversy.

“Some [in her family] even going as far as joining in on the bandwagon hate PUBLICLY, kicking her while she’s down at her lowest point,” Jesse claimed. “She has received text messages from her family accusing me of abuse and that I’m brainwashing her…issuing ultimatums that she needs to LEAVE ME IMMEDIATELY. Audacious s*** that will have your head-spinning because of the delusion and lack of consideration.”

Jesse Ridgway Said the Hate He and Ashley Received Was Unprecedented

On June 10, Jesse issued a new statement to People, offering more insight into why he and Ashley decided to terminate the pregnancy.

“We were confronting the scenario of having the baby, and playing out every possible scenario about what it would look like and how we would make it work, what happens if they have these health problems, and need these surgeries,” Jesse explained. “It was so real to us. I wish people could empathize with us, and know this wasn’t some black and white decision.”

The YouTuber admitted that neither he nor Ashley was prepared for the onslaught of social media abuse they faced.

“I’ve been making content for 20 years, so we’ve seen hate before. But not to this degree,” Jesse said. “Every second is a new death threat towards me and my wife. The amount of private support we’ve received is also overwhelming.”