Dr. Jackie Clarifies Controversial Statement on Black Pregnancy Pains, Defends Advocacy for Maternal Health
Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Walters is addressing the recent controversy surrounding a resurfaced clip in which she mentioned black women “cry wolf” about pregnancy pains. The “Married to Medicine” star, aged 65, asserts that the clip, taken out of a nearly two-hour video, was misconstrued, emphasizing that she does not take lightly the critical issues of the Black maternal health crisis.
In a statement shared on her Instagram Stories, Dr. Jackie explained that her life’s work has been dedicated to highlighting and addressing the challenges faced by Black maternal mothers compared to their counterparts. As an OB-GYN to celebrities like “RHOA” star Kandi Burruss and singer Tamar Braxton, she underlined her commitment to educating patients and empowering them to advocate for their own health.
Amidst concerns of medical mistreatment and gaslighting, Dr. Jackie clarified that her intention in the broader conversation was to equip patients with information and tools to effectively communicate their needs to doctors, ensuring positive outcomes in their pregnancies.
While Dr. Jackie did not issue a direct apology, she concluded her statement by affirming her ongoing commitment to fighting for the lives of Black mothers and babies, regardless of the recent controversy. The reality star faced criticism after a clip from a YouTube Live video with her “Married to Medicine” castmate Dr. Heavenly, dated April 2020, resurfaced and went viral.
In a recent video, the author of ‘Queen V,‘ Dr. Jackie, made controversial remarks suggesting that African-American women can sometimes be ‘a bit more dramatic’ when discussing pregnancy issues with their doctors, cautioning against ‘playing games’ to avoid taking time off work. The comments raised eyebrows, particularly given the well-documented racial disparities faced by black women during childbirth.
Dr. Jackie advised women to communicate seriously with their doctors to avoid potential misunderstandings, stating that frequent visits during pregnancy might make it challenging to discern genuine problems from routine check-ups.
Fans expressed shock at Dr. Jackie’s statements, especially in light of the documented healthcare disparities affecting black women. Some critics argued that she lacks the experience of carrying a child and should not make generalizations about black women’s experiences during pregnancy.
One Twitter user criticized Dr. Jackie, calling for her removal from the Bravo show ‘Married to Medicine,’ tagging BravoTV and host Andy Cohen in the tweet.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The agency cites various factors contributing to these disparities, including differences in healthcare quality, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.
Despite the controversy, Dr. Jackie, a longstanding figure in Bravo’s history, has been a main cast member on ‘Married to Medicine’ for all 10 seasons since its debut in 2013.
