Jesse Ridgway's old Down syndrome character video gains attention after recent announcement

A years-old video featuring YouTuber Jesse Ridgway has resurfaced online following his recent announcement that he and his wife decided to terminate a pregnancy after learning their unborn child had Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome. The video, originally uploaded in 2017 as part of his series The Devil Inside, has attracted renewed attention on social media as people discuss the timing of the clip's reappearance. The resurfaced footage shows Ridgway acting as a character with Down syndrome. In the scene, he uses exaggerated speech and mannerisms that many viewers have described as offensive. The video has become a major topic of discussion online, with some people criticizing the content and others revisiting Ridgway's explanation of the scene from when it was first released.

Jesse Ridgway's old Down syndrome character video gains attention after recent announcement

The clip was filmed during the production of The Devil Inside, a series in which Ridgway played multiple characters. In the scene, his character suddenly changes personalities and begins acting as a person with Down syndrome. During the video, Ridgway says, "I have Down syndrome," before making additional comments as part of the performance. After criticism emerged, Ridgway defended the scene and said it was connected to the storyline of the series. He explained that the character he was playing was experiencing rapid identity changes that had affected his mind. According to Ridgway, the scene was meant to be part of a larger fictional story rather than a direct portrayal of people with Down syndrome. The video has resurfaced just days after Ridgway shared a personal update on Instagram. In his post, he said that he and his wife made the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy after doctors diagnosed their unborn baby with Trisomy 21. Ridgway described the experience as traumatic and said the decision was not made lightly. The announcement quickly sparked discussion online. Whereas certain individuals sympathized with the couple amid their struggles, some other individuals criticized Ridgway for his depiction of people with Down syndrome in an old video that was brought back into light. The ongoing discussions regarding the matter on various social media sites have only made the issue more controversial, as people focus on revisiting the old video along with the latest statement from Ridgway.