Why Millie Bobby Brown's adoption news is sparking debate - Newsweek

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have expanded their family again, welcoming a second child through adoption, according to an exclusive People report.

The milestone arrives less than a year after the couple announced the adoption of their first child and further cements a family-building journey Brown has publicly said was always part of her long-term plans.

The news is likely to reignite conversations about Brown's unconventional path to parenthood, a subject that has already generated public scrutiny, while marking a major new chapter for one of Hollywood's youngest married couples.

The report, citing a source familiar with the family, followed clues that Brown, 22, shared on social media earlier this month, when a family vacation video from Italy appeared to show Bongiovi, 24, carrying an infant in a baby carrier while Brown held the couple's first daughter. Brown and Bongiovi married in 2024.

Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Brown for comment.

The latest adoption means Brown and Bongiovi now have a family of four just two years after marrying and only about a year after becoming first-time parents.

The expansion comes after the pair established a pattern of keeping details about their children largely private. Brown and Bongiovi have not publicly disclosed their first daughter's name and have repeatedly emphasized their desire to shield their children from the level of scrutiny Brown experienced growing up in the spotlight.

That commitment to privacy showed up in Brown's September 7 Instagram recap from the Dolomites in Italy. While the video appeared to include both children, the newest addition's face remained obscured, consistent with the couple's stated approach to protecting their family.

The development also highlights how quickly Brown and Bongiovi's personal lives have evolved. Once viewed primarily through the lens of Brown's rise from child star to global celebrity, the couple is now navigating marriage and parenthood while still in their early 20s.

Brown has spoken extensively over the past year about adoption and has consistently maintained that it was never a backup plan or secondary option. In interviews, she described adoption as something she envisioned long before she became famous.

Speaking on Kylie Kelce's Not Gonna Lie podcast in June, Brown said she always imagined adopting children.

She recalled that even as a young child, her dolls were "adopted" and said she never played out pregnancy scenarios during childhood. Brown emphasized that adoption was woven into her vision of motherhood from an early age.

She expanded on those comments during an appearance on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, where she explained that studying social work deepened her interest in adoption.

Brown said her coursework exposed her to the role social workers play in changing children's lives and reinforced her desire to build a family through adoption.

At the same time, Brown has clarified that adoption was not a rejection of biological motherhood. She told Kelce that she hopes to carry children in the future but views adoption and biological parenthood as equally meaningful ways to build a family.

The adoption announcements prompted a wave of public reaction that went beyond congratulations. Some online commentators questioned why Brown chose adoption at such a young age, while others speculated about her reproductive decisions despite no evidence supporting those theories.

The scrutiny became part of a broader pattern Brown has confronted throughout her career. The former Stranger Things star has repeatedly spoken out against online criticism, invasive commentary about her appearance and public judgment tied to growing up in front of audiences.

In discussing her first adoption, which was in August 2025, Brown openly acknowledged that her age became a focal point for critics. According to comments she later shared publicly, some observers questioned whether she was too young to become a parent, while others attempted to assign motivations to a deeply personal decision.

What makes the discussion notable is that Brown has consistently rejected the notion that she owes the public an explanation. Her comments have framed adoption as a deliberate choice rooted in lifelong aspirations rather than a decision requiring justification because of her celebrity status or age.

The latest adoption is likely to renew those conversations. Yet Brown's public remarks over the past year suggest she remains focused on protecting her family rather than engaging with speculation surrounding how she became a mother.

Brown has repeatedly said that one reason her relationship with Bongiovi—the son of rock musician Jon Bon Jovi—worked so quickly was their alignment on family and adoption. On Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, the actress said her husband embraced the idea from the start.

"I would say Jake was kind of in from the jump. Maybe that's why I married him. We were just so aligned. No explanation needed," Brown said. "It was kind of great to be able to just know that we wanted to start a family still rooted in love, but through adoption."

Brown said adoption had always been part of her vision for motherhood and described finding a partner who shared that perspective as a natural fit.

She has also been candid about wanting a large family. During a March appearance on the SmartLess podcast, Brown said: "Jake knows how important it is to me."

She added that while she remains focused on her acting and producing career, "I also find it's so important to start a family for me, personally. It's a huge thing."

Brown revealed that marriage was an important prerequisite for Bongiovi before they started a family.

"Jake was like, 'We cannot do that until we get married.' So that was his thing," she said. "I really want a family. I really want a big family. I'm one of four. He's one of four. So it is definitely in our future."

If Brown's previous comments are any indication, details about the newest addition are unlikely to emerge anytime soon. She has repeatedly argued that children should be allowed to choose for themselves whether they want public visibility, and she has suggested they can't make that decision at a young age.

While much of the attention surrounding the latest adoption will focus on its novelty and the couple's ages, Brown has consistently redirected the conversation toward privacy, family and the belief that adoption is another expression of parenthood.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Amanda Castro and Dave Siminoff.