Ellie Simmonds breaks down in tears over her birth mother's confession as her moving documentary leaves viewers 'broken-hearted'
Ellie Simmonds left viewers 'broken-hearted' with her emotional documentary on Tuesday, as she broke down in tears during a moving conversation with her birth mother.
In the film, titled Should I Have Children?, the Paralympian explores her fears around becoming a parent, and what it would mean if she were to have a child who inherits the genes for dwarfism.
Whilst on this journey of whether or not to become a mother, Ellie decided to contact her birth mother, and ask her why she decided to give her up for adoption.
Ellie's mother, whose identity has been protected by the swimmer, shared the abrupt way her condition was first revealed.
She said: 'We went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt, said ''There you go, that's what your baby is going to look like.'' I remember coming back thinking, I can't cope with this.'
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
Detailing the turmoil she suffered while giving birth to her daughter, Ellie's mother added: 'You're physically not right, you're mentally not right, it's a hard time to make a decision about anything.
'There was a lot in the background going on. I'd given birth on my own.'
Ellie's mother then shared that her daughter's disability became 'all she should see,' and said: 'I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was absolutely horrendous. I left you and you were my baby. I just handed you over.'
Breaking down in tears on the phone, she confessed: 'You really could never get over the guilt. The guilt was horrendous. So you live with it all the time.
'It's something that you'll have that you'll never forget. I thought about you every day. I think sometimes it was quite cowardly, to be honest.'
While Ellie was noticeably quiet during the exchange, she could be seen wiping away tears during the call.
The entire conversation left many viewers moved, with some praising Ellie for her work on the show.
Posts on X included: 'This documentary is breaking me! @EllieSimmonds1 is so brave to speak out, and find out how things have changed.
The conversation left many viewers moved, with some praising Ellie for her work on the emotional documentary
'Such an inspirational woman, who has achieved so much - 'there is ability in every disability' Having a year 3 class at our school named after you is a privilege;'
'There are so many superlatives I could use to describe #EllieSimonds. She is such a beautiful soul, both inside and out. Her documentary is so informative and poignant. #ShouldIHaveChildren;'
'I LOVE @EllieSimmonds1! What a woman ����❤️ your documentary is something to be incredibly proud of, as is all of your work for people with disabilities #ShouldIHaveChildren;'
'Ellie Simmonds is breaking my heart #elliesimmonds;'
'#ShouldIHaveChildren amazing documentary well done #elliesimmonds �� so informative.'
Following the call, Ellie seemed overcome with emotion, but later reflected on the exchange in a voiceover.
She said: 'It seems like she held that guilt for a long time. That's sad isn't it? We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society.
'It's amazing that she's so honest and open talking about what she went through.'
Ellie was adopted by Steve and Val Simmonds when she was three months old, and grew up with four older siblings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
13 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Abba singer Björn Ulvaeus teases fans in London with AI-assisted musical
After bringing a blockbuster hologram version of Abba to a purpose-built venue in east London, Björn Ulvaeus's next technological exploration is a musical that he's written with the help of artificial intelligence. Ulvaeus told an audience at SXSW London that he was 'three-quarters' of the way through writing a new musical which he has created with assistance from AI songwriting tools. He did admit the technology had limitations when it comes to songwriting, saying it was 'lousy at [writing a whole song]' and 'very bad at lyrics' but was helpful whenever the 80-year-old songwriter reached a creative impasse. 'You can prompt a lyric you have written about something, and you're stuck maybe, and you want this song to be in a certain style,' Ulvaeus said. 'You can ask it, how would you extend? Where would you go from here? It usually comes out with garbage, but sometimes there is something in it that gives you another idea.' The use of AI is a hugely contentious issue in the music industry. This year, Dua Lipa and Paul McCartney were among hundreds of artists who signed an open letter urging the prime minister to protect artists' copyright and not 'give our work away' to big tech. Ulvaeus said AI isn't the creative threat but rather a collaborator. 'It's fantastic. It is such a great tool,' he added. 'It is like having another songwriter in the room with a huge reference frame. It is really an extension of your mind. You have access to things that you didn't think of before.' The musical is far from Ulvaeus's first flirtation with technology. Abba Voyage, the concert which launched three years ago in a purpose-built arena that featured digital avatars of the band, has been a huge success and was described as a 'dazzling retro-futurist extravaganza' by the Guardian. It was a risky venture as Pophouse Entertainment, the company behind the project needed to bring in £140m in order to break even. He told the audience at SXSW London that he embraced experimental approaches to songwriting and studio technology much earlier in his career. This experimental approach is characteristic of Ulvaeus's career-long fascination with technological innovation. During his time in Abba, he along with bandmate Benny Andersson 'always wanted the latest thing', and were among the first to use the Mini Moog synthesizer and use digital recording machines in their studio. 'We were always on the lookout for, you know, you would hear a sound on the record. How was that done? And then you get that stuff,' said. The Abba songwriter told the audience that he sees AI as the latest evolution in his career rather than a threat which is how it is perceived by many. 'I actually wake up curious every morning,' Ulvaeus said, explaining the drive that has kept him creating decades after Abba's peak. 'Everything's really after our wanting to try new things.'
The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
I've found the perfect gift for athletic dads this Father's Day — it can be worn in and out of the gym
'ATHLEISURE' isn't really a word that factors into my life. There are clothes I use to exercise — usually a ratty t-shirt and gym shorts — and clothes I wear out and about. However, I was recently sent some gear from Gym + Coffee, and my eyes were opened to the possibility of clothes that do both. 2 2 As you might be able to tell from the name, Gym + Coffee makes garments designed to take you from your workout to your post-gym social commitments. They might not be smart enough to wear out to dinner, but their sleek, minimalistic design means they're certainly nice enough to wear out to brunch or to run errands. They tick the box that I think all good gym gear should tick: they make you excited to do exercise. Gym+Coffee: Quickfire Q&A How much is it? Moderately priced, if you ask me. My T-shirt was £30, shorts were £40 and the quarter-zip mid layer was £60. Who's it best for? People who like their workout clothes to do the heavy lifting outside the gym as well as in. What we loved: Every item feels really well-made, the sizing is spot-on and it's a welcome change from a sea of Gymshark and Lululemon. I also thought it was really What we didn't: Honestly? Not much. There are a lot of stock issues at the moment, which makes ordering a pain. RATING: 9/10 Coffee Tee in Petrol Blue Coffee Tee in Petrol Blue, £30 from Gym + Coffee In many ways, this is just a standard, breathable workout t-shirt. There's nothing too fancy about the material; it's 88% recycled polyester (which is a nice eco-friendly touch) and 12% elastane, which gives it a nice form-fitting stretch. I really loved the fit of this tee; it's got just a tiny bit of extra length, which means that you won't be exposing your stomach every time you reach your arms above your head. I also liked that it doesn't go over the top with the stretchiness — it's tight enough to be form-fitting, but loose enough that you won't look like an idiot if you decide to go for a pint after your workout. It's also super breathable, soft to the touch and, at £30, it's not silly money. Relentless 1/4 Zip in Petrol Blue Relentless 1/4 Zip in Petrol Blue, £60 from Gym + Coffee BUY HERE This was the surprise standout for me. The Relentless 1/4 Zip is made from ..... It's also a nice design touch to include a raglan sleeve, which extends in one piece up to your collar, rather than stopping at the shoulder. It gives you a bigger range of movement than an ordinary sleeve. While that's nothing groundbreaking, it just shows an attention to detail that I appreciate. Other neat little features include a size pocket with an invisible zip and thumb holes. It says a lot that it's recieved nothing but five-star reviews on the Gym+Coffee site, and that's from 50+ reviews — no mean feat. I think I echo the sentiments of this review: "Fits like a glove. Nice and tight on the arms and chest while not showing off the dad gut. Love it. Highly recommend." Essential 6" Shorts in Petrol Blue Essential 6" Shorts in Petrol Blue, £40 from Gym + Coffee BUY HERE I've always liked a shorter short, especially for working out, but it's worth mentioning that Gym + Coffee sells two versions of these shorts: a six-inch version and an eight-inch version. Weirdly, though, if you have your heart set on Petrol Blue, you'll have to be happy to show some thigh — you can't get the colour in the eight-inch shorts. As with the quarter zip, there's an attention to detail here I like. They have the sort of thick waistband I usually associate with yoga pants, for example, which helps them to stay in place during high-intensity sports. And as a person whose primary form of exercise is tennis, I appreciated that I could fit two tennis balls in the pockets. Some reviewers have called these the best shorts they've ever worn, and I have to agree — they're comfortable, lightweight, and made from a fabric that feels soft, stretchy and high-quality.
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Boy, three, starved to death and buried in garden by off-grid vegan parents was failed by authorities who feared being branded 'discriminatory'
Police and social workers' fear of being seen as discriminatory may have contributed to the death of a starved toddler who was buried in a garden, a review has suggested. Abiyah Yasharahyalah, aged three, died in early 2020 from a respiratory illness, worsened by a 'restricted' vegan diet which caused severe malnourishment. A review into his parents' contact with authorities found there was a lack of curiosity about how their culture and lifestyle might have impacted on his wellbeing, warning that 'the safeguarding of children being impacted by harmful cultural practice is paramount'. Tai and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah were jailed for a total of 44 years in December after being convicted of multiple charges including causing or allowing Abiyah's death and child cruelty by failing to provide adequate nourishment or summon medical care. The couple, both degree-educated, were obsessed with 'clean living' but lived in squalor after turning their back on society. Jurors heard they survived on only fruit, nuts and seeds having established a 'kingdom' in which they lived under their own religion and laws. The review said the case demonstrated the need for 'professionals' involved in safeguarding work such as police, health and social workers to 'be confident to ask questions about different cultures and belief systems without fear of being perceived as discriminatory'. It warned: 'Whilst professionals should have a good understanding of the communities they serve, if any family engages in cultural practices which are harmful to children, this must not be overlooked, and the safeguarding of children being impacted by harmful cultural practice is paramount.' The report by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership, published yesterday, said Abiyah became 'invisible and lost from professional view' following a lack of 'exploration or curiosity' by health visitors. The Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 likely contributed to the 'lack of follow-through activity', it added. Abiyah's birth in 2016 was registered, but he was not seen by medics or professionals after 2018 and his death in January 2020 went unnoticed. Officials only discovered the boy had died almost three years later, after police were asked to conduct a welfare check on the couple. By the time the couple were arrested in December 2022, Abiyah had been dead two years. The pair had been living off-grid in a squalid caravan in Somerset with another young child when a social worker came across a social media video posted by Tai in 2016 in which he referred to a child called Abiyah. Tai, 42, went on to admit that Abiyah was 'dead in a physical sense' but claimed he had been reincarnated. Those words led to the couple's arrests and soon after, Abiyah's body was exhumed at the couple's former address in Birmingham. Abiyah was found to have had severe malnutrition, rickets, anaemia and stunted growth thanks to his limited diet, as well as five fractures that would have caused terrible pain. The Yasharahyalahs' trial at Coventry Crown Court heard that while no cause of death was formally established, experts in court said starvation was probably to blame. Police visited the Handsworth property three times, including in February 2018 when Abiyah was alive. The review stated that with regard to this visit 'no details were recorded' about Abiyah, with his presence 'almost invisible on review of records'. Both the mother and father were said to be members of Royal Ahayah's Witness, described as an 'obscure religious movement based on the belief that mainstream Christianity is designed to subjugate the Black Community..' The review said their hostility towards those in authority caused the focus of professionals to be 'diverted or distracted' from the children's welfare while the couple's numerous name changes and aliases made it more difficult for agencies to track and share information effectively. It noted that Abiyah 'was only ever seen by a small number of professionals during his lifetime, and for a limited time only'. In March 2020, health visitor records said it had been noted at a safeguarding meeting that Abiyah had not been seen by them since his six-week assessment. Authorities showed a 'general lack of knowledge or assessment of the parents' belief systems', leading to an 'insufficient understanding about the impact' on his care, the review said. It added that his parents' behaviour 'often distracted or diverted professional attention' away from his safety and welfare. As part of the review, the views of both parents were sought. Tai refused to be interviewed but Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, agreed telling the review it was now 'hard to accept that my approach did not lead to the best outcomes for my child and that it took the court process to take me out of that bubble'. She said at the time, she did not think Abiyah needed help with any illness. An NSPCC spokesman said the review 'brings into sharp focus why it is crucial that professionals demonstrate curiosity and scrutiny.'
