Bunnie Xo has reflected on the hurtful comments she received about her body while undergoing IVF, saying the experience taught her not to let online criticism define her self-worth. The podcaster opened up about the emotional toll she took while undergoing fertility treatments, while also facing scrutiny over her appearance.Bunnie Xo, whose real name is Alisa Andrea DeFord, spoke with a guest on the July 7 podcast about their shared experiences with endometriosis, weight gain, and the online criticism they’ve faced on their health journeys. The discussion prompted the 46-year-old podcaster to reflect on her own fertility journey and the harsh comments she’s received from strangers online.
RabbitXo on in vitro fertilization Weight gain and online criticism
Bunnie Xo details the effects of IVF on the body and comments from online observers. “I know what it’s like to try to figure this out. When I was going through IVF, it caused stress for me, and people would say, ‘Oh, she’s older than her husband now,'” she said, recounting the specific comparisons strangers made about her physical changes.
Bunnie Xo shares how she learned to ignore body-shaming comments made during her IVF process and focus on her path to parenthood. Image source (Bunnie Xo Instagram)
The podcaster stressed that the comments were especially cruel given her weight gain. “You’re literally trying to have a baby with your own body, and people have no respect. The Internet is crazy, but I’ve learned that there are only miserable people who have nothing better to do than comment on other people’s lives. So you can never let that get to you,” she said, reflecting on how she has learned to deal with and eliminate negativity.Her comments highlight the unique vulnerability that individuals experience during fertility treatment when physical and emotional demands have been significantly heightened.
The fertility journey and jelly roll
A few weeks ago, Bunnie Xo shared details about her continued plans to have a baby with her estranged husband, musician Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, despite their separation. During the June 18 episode of her podcast, she revealed that she and Jelly Roll quickly finalized their divorce but remain committed to their shared goal of becoming parents.“We were actually working through our divorce… What did it take us like? Three weeks? Two weeks? We were still together having the baby,” she said at the time. The couple described themselves as “the most unconventional couple” listeners have ever encountered and explained that they plan to continue raising their children together.Bunnie Xo highlighted the nature of their relationship during their separation. “We will raise our children together. J is my best friend. Like, it’s not what you think it is. No one deceives the other. It was really just us serving each other,” she said in response to speculation about the reasons behind their divorce.
Despite their separation, Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll remain committed to having a child together, continuing their fertility journey and planning to co-parent. Image source (Bunnie Xo Instagram)
Bunnie Xo on the emotional impact of fertility challenges
The couple’s fertility journey took a significant emotional toll on both. Bunnie Xo has revealed they suffered a devastating setback in their efforts to start a family after losing four embryos while trying to conceive together. “It devastated me emotionally, mentally, physically,” she said, describing the combined impact of the loss.She noted that she and Jelly Roll, 41, both received hormonal treatments during their reproductive journeys. “In a way, I think J and I were connected by trauma,” she admits, and although their romantic relationship ended, their shared experience of dealing with fertility challenges deepened their bond.
The ex-couple continues to commit to parenthood
Despite the end of their marriage, Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll remain focused on their shared dream of becoming parents. Bunnie Xo previously wrote in her memoir, “Stripped Down,” released in February, that she and Jelly Roll found a surrogate mother and planned to use her eggs and his sperm to continue their fertility journey. She documented that they had been trying to have a child since October 31, 2019, indicating that they had been working toward this goal for years.Bunnie Xo says she is determined to complete her fertility journey despite the challenges she faces. “I’m so excited to be able to live life through my baby’s eyes, which is why this baby journey, I’m not going to let it break me down and I’m not going to stop it. J is so great that we’re still having a baby together and he wants the same thing. We’re just going to raise little Nugget as one big happy family,” she said, indicating she’s optimistic about their future together as co-parents.Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll tied the knot in August 2016 and have been candid about their efforts to grow their family, publicly documenting their parenthood journey in recent years.
