Ellie Gonsalves went viral earlier last year after she shared her list of 118 reasons she does not want children on social media.
And the Australian actress and model says that she got a lot of backlash from parents who were upset by her candid comments.
‘Conversion therapy starts to happen,’ the 34-year-old tells this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine.
‘It’s like people get offended that I’m saying I don’t want to live their life, and then go into this defence mode of trying to change my mind.’
As for her own reasons to remain childfree, Ellie, who is married to film producer Ross Scutts, said: ‘My husband and I have worked really, really hard for peace.’
Ellie Gonsalves (pictured) went viral earlier last year after she shared her list of 118 reasons she does not want children on social media. And the Australian actress and model says that she got a lot of backlash from parents who were upset by her candid comments
‘Now we just don’t care to disrupt that peace. Bringing another human being into our dynamic would massively change that, and I don’t want to play second banana to a baby’ she added.
Ellie recently shared some of the troll comments she has received via her Instagram DMs after listing 118 reasons she does not want children.
She posted a screen shot of a message she got on Instagram Stories which read: ‘You’ll also most likely die alone with no one by your side.’
Ellie replied: ‘What’s gonna stop you from dying alone? Lol having kids isn’t an insurance policy against loneliness. Get some friends for Christ sake’.
‘Conversion therapy starts to happen,’ the 34-year-old tells this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine. ‘It’s like people get offended that I’m saying I don’t want to live their life, and then go into this defence mode of trying to change my mind’
Appearing on The Project, the Australian reality star said she is not phased by the anger, and thinks it’s important women discuss the issue openly.
‘I think the backlash that comes along with someone being so honest and candid about it is terrifying to people,’ she said.
‘I found it very strange that people don’t talk about it but you see what’s happened in the last 24 hours since I’ve shared this list and it has literally been on every major news outlet in Australia.
‘So the backlash that comes along with that and the vilification and the judgement, I think is scary to a lot of people’.
Despite the criticism, Ellie is sticking to her guns in the hopes that she can help other women.
As for her own reasons to remain childfree, Ellie, who is married to film producer Ross Scutts, said: ‘My husband and I have worked really, really hard for peace’
‘I have been called everything under the sun over my entire career and it’s like water off a duck’s back for me. But for a lot of people it’s very scary,’ she said.
‘So if I’m that person that can have a voice and make people feel seen and heard who feel the way that I do then that’s amazing.’
The actress said she was inspired to start her own list after seeing TikTok user Girl With The List go viral on the video platform with her own collection of reasons.
Ellie earlier broke her silence about the backlash she received over her controversial list.
She divided the internet after sharing 118 reasons she does not want children to Instagram.
What followed was a wave of hatred levelled against the actress.
‘I have already received hundreds of DMs criticising me, telling me how much of a horrible and broken person I am. But lots of these fears/thoughts ARE real,’ she told Mamamia.
‘They resonate with not only me but with so many other women. A lot of them are small things that contribute towards a much bigger picture.’
She added the messages she received questioning the list only furthered her resolve, as it showed some people felt threatened by others choosing to live an alternative lifestyle.
‘They further illustrate my main point: people are sold a certain life, and when they witness others choosing a different path, the frustration lies within themselves.’
Ellie then said she had also received several positive messages from fans praising her for speaking out her desire to remain childfree.
Ellie is outspoken about being childfree by choice, and revealed she received a host of nasty DMs upon sharing the list to Instagram on Sunday. Pictured: Ellie and her husband Ross Scutts
‘It’s been nice to read hundreds of comments from people who feel seen, people who have also had uncomfortable moments where others have questioned their choice and all that has done is made them feel awful or uncomfortable,’ she said.
The Australian model and actress posted whipped her followers into a frenzy after posting the list to social media.
Among her reasons listed were post partum hair loss, the baby may poo inside you, your vagina will be different, your house will never be tidy, childbirth can cause rectal prolapse and you miss out on things you love doing.
‘While some of those things on my list are satirical, many are serious and factual. Societal pressure when it comes to this topic are truly questionable and I believe unfair towards those with differing opinions,’ she said of the list.
‘I have already received hundreds of DMs criticising me telling me how much of a horrible and broken person I am. But lots of these fears/thoughts ARE real,’ she said
‘Very rarely do we see a voice in support of this, because let’s face it, the public backlash can be too much,’ the influencer added.
Ellie married her long-term partner, entrepreneur Ross Scutts, in two luxury ceremonies back in March.
The official nuptials took place at the floating beach club La Luna on the Gold Coast in an intimate toi et moi wedding.
They followed it up with a second luxury gathering where they invited their bridal party and other guests.
The couple, who have been together for 15 years, have been vocal about not wanting to have children.
Ellie married her long-term partner, entrepreneur Ross Scutts, in two luxury ceremonies back in March. The couple have been together for 15 years
READ MORE: Model and actress Ellie Gonsalves marries entrepreneur Ross Scutts in lavish two-day wedding on the Gold Coast
