Jenna Johnson is speaking out after a social media user sent her a hurtful message about her 2-year-old son, Rome.
On Friday, July 4, the Dancing With the Stars pro, 31, shared a photo of herself via Instagram Stories snuggling up with Rome, who was drinking from a bottle. Apparently, another mom didn’t think a 2-year-old should still be using a bottle and decided to share her thoughts with Johnson.
“Way too old for this fat r****d to have a bottle,” the social media user wrote via DM.
Johnson shared a screenshot of the individual’s message via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, July 5, alongside a note about bullying online.
“Soooo yesterday I posted a pic of me and my son, who I hadn’t seen in 4 days and lots of people felt strongly about him drinking from a bottle,” she began. “Totally fine when other moms give *positive* advice and I’m always open to feedback to an extent. But this woman (who’s profile pic is of her holding her own baby) decided to DM me this. What world are we living in?? I understand that I put my life out there publicly, which I honestly want to STOP doing when extremely rude and harmful messages toward my baby are sent to me. But are we OK as a society? Also, you yourself are a MOM!!!! Would you want me, a total stranger, to DM you this about your child? Because he’s drinking from a bottle??? Like WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING.”
She concluded, “I love my social media community on here and really feel so connected to each of you. But enough is enough with the sad trolls/bullies on here. Please unfollow me IMMEDIATELY and respectfully get a life.”
On Sunday, July 6, Johnson thanked her followers for sharing supportive messages amid the controversy.
“I honestly cried reading ALL your messages,” she wrote via Instagram Stories. My heart really hurt yesterday at how vile and mean some people can be, but once again I was shown just how much this little community of mine on here can also show up. You gave me the love, support, and kindness that I believe in!”
She continued, “Let’s remember that we are all humans, navigating life the best we can! I promise to try and only spread positivity and light on my feed and I hope you feel inspired to do the same. But seriously, thank you for having my back and making me feel seen. So grateful to each of you!!”
Johnson shares Rome with her husband and fellow DWTS pro, Val Chmerkovskiy. The pair got married in April 2019 and welcomed Rome in January 2023.
“Our world is forever changed 🤍 1.10.2023,” the dancers jointly captioned the first photo of their baby boy.
Johnson has been open about her infertility journey, sharing a heartfelt message while announcing her pregnancy in 2022.
“We had actually stopped trying to conceive for about 6 months to mentally/emotionally give ourselves a break,” Johnson wrote in the Instagram caption. “So the shock, disbelief, and sheer joy in this moment is a memory I will never forget 🤍”
She also shared a short clip of herself getting her first ultrasound, explaining, “Our journey getting to this point wasn’t an easy one.”
Johnson also commended her sister-in-law, Peta Murgatroyd, for sharing her own experience after suffering multiple miscarriages.
“As a family [we’ve] obviously known about this and her struggles with it,” Johnson exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2022. “She’s kept it very private for the past two years. So when I saw the beautiful piece that they did and that she finally opened up, I just called her and told her how proud I am of her, because I know how much heartbreak that brought her and how badly she wants another baby.”
Murgatoryd is married to Val’s brother, Maksim Chmerkovsiky, and they share three sons, Shai, 8, Rio, 2, and Milan, 11 months.
“When I think back to the pain, the angst, the anger of not being able to keep a baby … It’s funny, I could get pregnant very easily but I kept losing the babies and it was a tragic circumstance because I really thought that I was going to be having one child for the rest of my life and I had to be OK with that,” Murgatoryd, 38, told Us Weekly in June. “And now that I do have three and it is utter chaos, Maks and I have to find time to be together and we’ve really had to sit down and say, ‘I miss you.’ [And], ‘I miss you too.’ Let’s really just connect and make sure that we’re seeing each other properly, communicating properly and making sure we’re really trying to carve out time for each other.’”
