Singer Halsey has shared a deeply personal experience of suffering a miscarriage while performing on stage at just 20 years old. Speaking on the SHE MD Podcast with Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thais Aliabadi, Halsey recalled the emotional and physical toll of the experience, which occurred early in their career.
“I was in a really tough position because it was really early on in my career, and there was a lot attached to the show,” they said. The concert had corporate sponsors, media partners, and, most importantly to Halsey, “a thousand kids who waited all day long” to see them perform.
Despite the medical emergency, Halsey made the difficult decision to go on stage, wearing an adult diaper to get through the 45-minute set. After leaving the stage, they vomited in the parking lot and later spent the night in a hotel, dealing with the aftermath of the miscarriage. “I remember sitting in the bathtub because I just didn’t know what to do with all the blood,” they shared.
Beyond the physical pain, Halsey struggled with intense emotions. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘I’m 20 years old. I should be able to carry a baby,’” they said. “I didn’t want to be pregnant. I was way involved in my career. So, I had a lot of complex feelings—relief, confusion, guilt, grief.” The experience left them questioning their ability to conceive, fearing that “something must be wrong.”
A History of Reproductive Struggles
This wasn’t the first time Halsey had faced pregnancy complications. In a 2022 Vogue essay, they revealed they had suffered three miscarriages before the age of 24. After welcoming their son in 2021, Halsey shared their support for reproductive rights, stating that an abortion during one miscarriage had saved their life.
“My abortion saved my life and gave way for my son to have his,” they wrote.
Over the years, Halsey has been open about their health struggles, including endometriosis, lupus, T-cell disorder, and infertility. Despite these challenges, they remain hopeful about expanding their family.
“I want more babies really badly,” they said on the podcast. “I had such a pleasant experience being pregnant with my son, and he’s the light of my life.” However, living with chronic illness has made motherhood even more complex. “I had a lot of guilt... I was grieving the fact that I couldn’t be the best mom in the world because I wanted to be the best mom in the world and history.”
Halsey’s candid discussion highlights the often-overlooked realities of pregnancy loss, chronic illness, and the pressures placed on women’s bodies—especially in high-stakes careers. Their story serves as a reminder of the need for better healthcare support, workplace accommodations, and open conversations about reproductive health.
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