A public figure has spoken out against recent remarks made by a former U.S. President regarding the causes of autism, labeling the statements as government-sponsored misinformation.
The celebrity, known for her role on a reality television series, responded to a social media post featuring the former president. In the footage, he suggested a link between the development of autism spectrum disorder and the use of the common over-the-counter medication acetaminophen during pregnancy.
“Autism was documented long before this medication even existed,” the star pointed out in her online rebuttal. She emphasized that many children diagnosed with autism were never vaccinated, and their mothers did not take the drug while pregnant.
She acknowledged that the word “virtually” was used repeatedly in the original claims, noting this was likely because there are “obviously” still cases of autism in communities that avoid these factors. “I am thankful autism is being researched and hopefully someday we can learn more,” she stated, concluding, “but our children are wonderful and deserve better than misinformation from our own government.”
The former president’s comments were made during a recent press conference, where he advised pregnant women against using the pain reliever. He referenced health agency guidelines recommending limited use during pregnancy only when medically necessary, such as for treating a high fever.
“Don’t take it,” he urged. “You’ll be uncomfortable. It might not be as easy. But don’t take it if you’re pregnant.” He extended this warning to administering the medication to infants after birth, asserting there was “no downside” to avoiding it.
He later clarified that he was offering a personal opinion rather than citing established scientific consensus, framing his advice as “common sense.”
The reality star’s criticism comes from a place of personal experience. Earlier this year, she publicly shared that her young son has been diagnosed with autism. She described early developmental milestones, followed by a regression in speech around age two, which led to therapy. She noted her son is now largely non-verbal but does say words like “mommy” on occasion.
She received the formal diagnosis just before finishing production on the latest season of her show. While she anticipated the result, hearing it confirmed made the situation more tangible.
“Our life is going to look a little bit different, but I feel like I was meant to be his mom,” she has said previously. “He is my better half… and even though he can’t talk, I know everything that he wants, everything that he needs. We’re just so synced, it’s incredible.”
