A teenage mother has revealed how her parents reacted to her shock pregnancy announcement.
TLC's longrunning teen pregnancy series Unexpected is back for a new season airing next month – and it's already facing backlash for a controversial decision.
The US-based series features follows teenage couples as they navigate the ups and downs of becoming young parents – however, it's the ages of one of the couples which has caught viewers' attention.
Arkansas couple Bella and Hunter are 15 and 13 respectively and are parents to a baby boy born in March 2025, meaning they were 14 and 12 when Bella fell pregnant with the child.
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The couple's ages were revealed in a recent teaser for the show, with the inclusion of such young parents leaving viewers shocked.
"The way my jaw dropped when her mom said 13 because that is crazy," wrote one person in response to the trailer.
"13?!? That’s actually so heartbreaking," a second person commented, while a third added: "My heart dropped when I heard 13, like hay guys no is this a joke or what."
Bella has since responded to the backlash on social media, posting a series of TikTok's aimed at clearing up rumours circulating online.
Responding to claims made about her online, Bella clarified that she was not trying to get pregnant and that her parents were 'great parents', who are supportive of her and her young son.
She revealed her parents' reaction to her pregnancy in another video, revealing they were incredibly supportive over the pregnancy and have helped her with raising the baby, named Wesley.
"They are so amazing, so much better than other parents," Bella said, adding that she knew 'right from wrong' when it came to having a child young.
When it comes to Hunter's family, the teenager revealed that his parents were not supportive of the pregnancy and wanted her to get a termination (via The Tab).
Bella also responded to claims that she was glamorizing teenage pregnancy, saying the TikTok's her mum makes are intended to show 'how hard it is' to be a young parent.
"We would never recommend it to anyone," she adds.
The difficulties of Bella's journey are also teased in the trailer for Unexpected, which reveals that Hunter is struggling to pass the 8th grade (Year 9) at school.
"I don’t want him to be held back in the 8th grade,” Bella’s mother Falen states in the trailer, to which Bella replies: "I don’t want him to be a tenth grader dating an eighth grader. We’ve got a toddler."
The couple aren't the only expectant teenagers featured on the show, which also follows Isabella and Bryce, both 18, Amya and Jose, both 16, and, Mia and Jessie, both 16.
Unexpected premieres on TLC from 16 February
Topics: Parenting, TV, US News, Sex and Relationships
Brenna Cooper