'Love and Hip Hop' star Erica Mena stands by decision not to vaccinate her baby despite backlash
Expectant Love and Hip Hop star Erica Mena is standing by her decision not to vaccinate her baby once it’s born, despite the backlash she’s received on social media.
On Sunday, Mena, who’s expecting a girl with musician husband Safaree Samuels, shared a post asking friends and family members to “make sure they do not have booster shots before they visit” their little one.
She also shared an anti-vaccination meme which read, “Love them, protect them, never inject them.”
Her posts to Instagram Stories followed another post, captured by The Blast on Nov. 7, that showed a text message exchange between her and her preteen son, King Conde. She captioned it, “My son King is not letting up on his reasons why we should vaccinate the baby.”
In the texts, Mena at first told her son that he was being “disrespectful,” but then he insisted that he only had his future little sister’s health in mind.
“Oh, I’m sorry for wanting my baby sister to live as healthy as possible,” he reportedly wrote. “While youre convinced ignoring what right for her is fine? Im sorry for possibly being disrespectful but im only being that way because im passionate about this. I love you.”
To which Mena replied, “Look at you being a great big brother. I can’t for her to get here so you can defend her with all your might.”
As of Monday night, Samuels was not sharing his stance on vaccines on social media.
The internet was outraged that Mena has chosen to disregard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that children be vaccinated. “Over the years vaccines have prevented countless cases of disease and saved millions of lives,” the federal organization charged with keeping Americans safe advises.
As The Blast reported, one follower commented on Mena’s page, “It’s sad that the 11 year old has to fight to do the right thing for his baby sister.” Another wrote, “How sad is it that your 11 year old has more sense then you do?”
Mena herself responded to some of her critics on Twitter.
You are clearly uneducated on this poison that parents are being forced to put in their babies. Don’t waste your energy telling me who I need to listen until you educate yourself probably. Have a great one. https://t.co/POWewBN3Wk
— Erica Mena Samuels (@iamErica_Mena) November 11, 2019
Of course, that prompted more comments.
I love you but im a vaccinated kid and im fine 🤷🏾?♀? ima vaccinate my kids so they dont catch these before Christ diseases and ima do it so my kid isnt a walking virus 🦠
— ThatOneGirl (@AliciaMyLaMiSa) November 11, 2019
Well im unfollowing you. I wont support someone who willingly puts their newborn and the population at large at risk for PREVENTABLE diseases.
— Megan Spicer (@MeganSpice19) November 11, 2019
Wow wow wow I like you Erica but I don’t agree with you at all.... so these ppl that choose not to vaccinate get the mumps and you at a public place you risking an outbreak 😷 lorttt
— cary izquierdo (@IzquierdoCary) November 11, 2019
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