Most expectant parents, concerned about the possibility of a miscarriage, wait until after the first three months of pregnancy to share the news with family and friends. But discretion is nearly impossible for those in the media spotlight.
"Every woman, no matter who they are or what they do for a living, has the right to wait until at least [three] months before sharing this very personal news," Wentz, who turns 29 Thursday, told MTV.com last week. "We wanted to wait until after the first trimester and get a clean bill of health from our doctors before confirming anything, just like any other couple.
"Being a boy I have no idea how to respond to such things and my first instinct was to protect her and the baby," said Wentz, bassist for rock band Fall Out Boy. "It's insane that you can't let happy news brew in Hollywood. This wasn't about press or anything. . . . I apologize to anyone who felt misinformed but the truth is, the person and growing baby is who I felt most loyal to protect and defend."
Wentz isn't the first celebrity to dispute pregnancy rumors. In late December, Nicole Kidman, who had a miscarriage during her marriage to Tom Cruise, denied that she is expecting a baby with husband Keith Urban - only to confirm it a week later. Jennifer Lopez, who welcomed twins with husband Marc Anthony in February, announced she was pregnant in November following denials by the couple.
Even so, attempts by celebrities to keep their pregnancies private doesn't stop celebrity magazines and gossip websites from issuing reports to the contrary.
Jared Shapiro, executive editor of Life & Style Weekly, told the Associated Press the magazine began publishing stories that Simpson, the younger sister of Jessica Simpson, was pregnant after receiving information from various sources.
"The news of the pregnancy makes for great breaking news," he said.
"Ninety-nine percent of these celebrities end up confirming, so they do talk about it - they just do it on their own terms," said Shapiro. He said it's the media's job "to break news. Not wait for news."
