YouTube influencer couple Jesse and Ashley Ridgway have found themselves at the centre of a furious online storm after publicly announcing they terminated their pregnancy following a diagnosis of Trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down's Syndrome, with Jesse saying the couple received non-stop death threats and were compared to Adolf Hitler in the 24 hours following their announcement.

The couple, who first announced their pregnancy in March to their significant social media following, shared the news of their decision on June 3. Jesse, 33, posted a lengthy statement explaining that the choice had not been made lightly and that the experience had been extremely traumatic for both him and his wife Ashley, 31, who carried out the termination this week.

Trisomy 21 is a chromosomal condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome, typically caused by a change in a sperm or egg before conception. According to the NHS, it is not caused by anything a parent does before or during pregnancy, and affects people differently. Some individuals with Down's Syndrome are able to live fully independent lives and hold employment, while others may require ongoing support and care throughout their lives.

Jesse said he had initially responded to the diagnosis with cautious optimism, telling followers he had been prepared to "make it work" whatever challenges arose. However, after researching the condition more thoroughly, his view changed. He cited a range of health risks associated with Down's Syndrome and described it as "objectively terrible from a health perspective," stating that more often than not, individuals with the condition would be fully dependent on others for the entirety of their lives.

He also addressed fans of the couple who themselves have Down's Syndrome, saying he and Ashley appreciated them and were glad they were here, while making clear the decision was specific to their own circumstances and the long-term wellbeing of their family.

The couple's announcement was met with an enormous backlash from a significant portion of their audience, with Jesse saying he had never witnessed such hatred directed at two people grieving the loss of an unborn child. He described being called "murderous pieces of sh*t" and receiving constant death threats, and expressed bafflement that many of those attacking them were invoking religion as justification. He also noted that many of those claiming they would have kept the baby or adopted a child with Down's Syndrome likely would not follow through.

Amid the criticism, Jesse also said many mothers had quietly reached out to thank them for speaking openly about their experience, suggesting the subject is one that many people face privately but rarely discuss publicly out of fear of social consequences. The couple confirmed they planned to try for another baby in the future.

As Jesse explained in his original post about the decision: "When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they're a little slow intellectually, then we'll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may. But I just didn't fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed. I didn't realise just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family. More often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life."