
has announced the birth of her first child with her husband Charlie McDowell.
The actress, known for starring in , shared an emotional Instagram post yesterday, revealing that she and McDowell had become parents thanks to a surrogate.
Alongside a sweet photo of the couple鈥檚 newborn daughter, she wrote, 鈥淲elcome to the centre of our world Tove Jane McDowell.
鈥淲ords will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way. We love you to the moon and back again鈥"
The couple鈥檚 celebrity friends shared their congratulations, with Collins' Emily in Paris costar Ashley Park writing, 鈥淢om and dadddddd鈥, and Sofia Richie Grainge writing, 鈥淟ove you all so much! Congratulations.鈥
Fans also shared their congratulations, with many expressing surprise at the news,
However, some chose to criticise the couple for welcoming a child via a surrogate, calling it 鈥渦nethical鈥.
鈥淵ou bought a baby,鈥 one commented, while another accused them of being 鈥渞ich people renting women鈥檚 bodies鈥.
鈥淎doption literally exists,鈥 another wrote.
McDowell then responded to the comments, writing underneath his wife鈥檚 post, 鈥淚n regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby - it鈥檚 ok to not be an expert on surrogacy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 ok to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It鈥檚 ok to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume. And it鈥檚 ok to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people鈥檚 lives.鈥
He concluded by writing, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper.鈥
The couple did not share their reasons for using a surrogate, though Collins has previously opened up about her fears surrounding fertility after experiencing an eating disorder.
鈥淚 was terrified I had ruined my chances of having kids,鈥 she wrote in her 2017 memoir Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, Lily.
Many other A-listers have chosen the same path, including due to 鈥渕edical necessity鈥.
in 2021 after doctors told her she would never be able to carry a child.
Collins and McDowell began dating after meeting on the set of McDowell鈥檚 film Gilded Rage and .
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeartRadio app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeartRadio is easy to use and all FREE