Millie Bobby Brown is defending Jake Bongiovi after online comments turned a few public photos into a judgment on his parenting.
The Stranger Things star addressed the backlash on Kylie Kelce’s podcast Not Gonna Lie. People reported that Brown spoke about viral photos showing her carrying a car seat and two backpacks while Bongiovi was not visibly helping.
Brown said the reaction bothered her because strangers were making assumptions from a short public moment. She described Bongiovi as sweet, polite, and supportive, while also saying he knows she is capable of carrying her own things.
The couple married in 2024 and announced in August 2025 that they had welcomed a baby girl through adoption. They have not publicly shared their daughter’s name or shown her face.
Brown Said Bongiovi Knows She Is Capable
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Brown told Kelce that the criticism focused on images of her carrying bags, baby items, and a car seat while Bongiovi was nearby. Page Six reported that some comments questioned why he was not carrying her belongings or pushing the stroller.
Brown rejected the idea that the photos proved anything about their marriage or his parenting. She said Bongiovi “will do anything” for her, but also respects that she is not helpless.
“When did women become incapable of holding their own bags, car seats and stuff?” Brown said, according to People.
The Viral Photos Turned Into a Debate About Independence
Brown said the reaction showed a contradiction in the way people talk about women. She pointed out that women are often told to be strong and independent, then judged when they do something simple on their own.
The Cut noted that Brown was responding to months of photos and videos that had fueled comments about whether Bongiovi was doing enough physical labor during public outings with their daughter.
Brown’s answer was not that Bongiovi never helps. Her point was that a single photo of her carrying items does not show how they parent together, and it does not mean she needs strangers to defend her from her own husband.
Kylie Kelce Agreed With Her
Kelce, who shares four daughters with Jason Kelce, backed Brown during the podcast conversation. People reported that Kelce said she loved Brown’s response and agreed with the larger point about women being capable.
The exchange stayed light, but Brown made a clear boundary around the criticism. She said she is not “broken,” and Kelce joked that the two of them were the same kind of person.
Brown and Bongiovi Became Parents Through Adoption
Brown and Bongiovi announced in August 2025 that they had adopted a baby girl. At the time, they said they were excited to begin parenthood “in both peace and privacy.”
Brown also spoke on Not Gonna Lie about adoption itself, telling Kelce that the hardest part of the process was waiting for the call. People reported that Brown has wanted to adopt since childhood and studied social work before later switching to veterinary studies.
She said every adoption path is different and should not be compared with anyone else’s. Brown also said she still hopes to carry a child one day, while describing adoption as “love” and “forever.”
The Couple Married in 2024
Brown and Bongiovi quietly married in May 2024 and later held a second wedding celebration in Italy. People reported that they had been dating since 2021 before getting married.