Jamie Lynn Spears Opens Up About The Impact of Her Pregnancy on Fans of ‘Zoey 101’

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Jamie Lynn Spears opened up about the struggles she faced from getting pregnant at 16 — while starring on a hit TV show. 

"At a young age, when I was just a little older than my daughter is now, I found myself pregnant. I took full responsibility for my pregnancy in a way that made sense to me," revealed Spears, 32, in an episode of the "Better Tomorrow With Hannah Brown" podcast. "Though it may not have made sense to everyone else, it was the right choice for me. Unfortunately, the entire world condemned me and labeled me as the worst person alive. They believed that my personal decision would negatively impact every young girl who watched my show."

During her time on Nickelodeon's Zoey 101, where she played the lead character, Spears felt torn between not wanting to disappoint anyone and doing what she believed was best for herself. Nonetheless, her decision to have a child while being a part of a teenage-focused show caused a major public outburst.

"People were discussing the topic of young girls my age engaging in sexual activity. And I believe that people were uncomfortable with this reality… That although it was happening, many of them were not getting pregnant," she explained. She further added, "Even if I had chosen to have an abortion, it wouldn't have changed the fact that I had engaged in sexual activity. So I believe the larger conversation was about the potential consequences, where young girls may be more inclined to engage in sex, whether society accepts it or not."

Spears took the lead role in the show, which followed her character's experiences at a new boarding school in Malibu, for four seasons before the network decided to end it in 2008. Later that year, the actress gave birth to her daughter, Maddie, whom she shares with her ex Casey Aldridge. (Spears is also a mother to her daughter Ivey, 5, whom she shares with her husband Jamie Watson, whom she married in 2014.)

Spears disclosed to Nylon magazine in October 2020 that her pregnancy did not occur until approximately six months after the conclusion of Zoey 101. She mentioned in the podcast episode released on Wednesday that she faced criticism and judgment for her decision as a woman.

Recalling the experience, she expressed, "No positive remarks were made. It was purely filled with disparagement, stating that I was responsible for ruining everything and disappointing every child. I believe we should aspire to improve our behavior in such situations."

Spears expressed her hope for a different experience today as she returned for her new film, Zoey 102, which made its premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, July 27. It was a significant moment for her as she described it as coming "full-circle."

When her daughter, Maddie, who is now 15, visited the set of Zoey 102, she was amazed by the presence of all the people there because of her mother's show. Maddie expressed her pride, saying, "Mom, I can't believe you did that, I'm so proud of you." Spears credited this moment as a realization of the worth in everything she went through and thanked God for it.