Gabourey Sidibe is planning to lie to her children by telling them she’s a teacher instead of a movie star. This approach reflects a growing trend among celebrity parents who wish to maintain normalcy for their children despite their public profiles.
The ‘Precious’ actress welcomed twins – Cooper and Maya – with her husband Brandon Frankel last year and she’s now revealed she’s planning to keep them away from the spotlight for as long as possible and she definitely doesn’t want them to know their mother is famous. Sidibe gained critical acclaim for her debut role in “Precious,” which earned her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
“There’s a very strange thing where I’m a mom and I’m a mama bear, I’m protective of my kids, but because of what I do for a living, I kind of expose them to this bigger world that I hope that they never find out…” Gabourey, 41, told PEOPLE. Her protective instinct mirrors that of many celebrity parents who struggle with balancing their public careers and private family lives.
“I really would like to hide… the world from my children, and I will for as long as I can…” The actress’s concerns reflect the challenges of raising children in the age of social media, where privacy is increasingly difficult to maintain for public figures and their families.
“Everyone was like: ‘Oh, do you let them watch you on TV?’ And I’m like: ‘First of all, my babies don’t have screen time. Secondly, I’m just simply going to lie to them as long as I can about what I do for a living. I’m going to tell them I’m a teacher, and also, our household is very normal.” Child development experts suggest that limited screen time for young children supports healthy brain development.
The actress admits it feels “scary” to share pictures of the twins on social media, but she does it so friends and family who live far away can keep up with how the family is getting on. Many parents face similar dilemmas about sharing their children’s images online while trying to protect their privacy.
She added: “It is kind of scary to share them online, but also they’re just so cute and we have family and friends in other states, and sometimes it’s just easier to put things on [Instagram].” Celebrity parents often struggle to find the balance between sharing family moments and maintaining boundaries.
Gabourey previously opened up about how the couple chose their children’s names, telling Shutterstock: “Brandon always wanted to name a son Cooper, so we can call him ‘Coop,’ and Maya was named shortly before our baby moon to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Both twins have traditional West African middle names after members of my family… We’re excited for outfits and getting them dressed up, for sing-alongs, trips and to explore, and raising them to be good people.” Name selection often reflects parents’ cultural heritage and personal experiences.
She added of the twins: “Cooper will sometimes speak for Maya and alert us that she’s about to spit up. Maya loves her name being sung to her and is the queen of comedic timing, and Cooper loves his sleep and has the funniest facial expressions. They both love cuddling with Mom and Dad… Also, it was a surprise to see how little they’ve acknowledged each other outside the womb when they seemed to interact so much inside.” This twin behavior showcases the unique bond that begins before birth.
Sidibe‘s approach to parenting highlights the universal desire to protect children from the potential negative aspects of fame. Many celebrity parents create strategies to give their children as normal a childhood as possible.
The Oscar-nominated actress continues to balance her career with her new role as a mother, joining other performers who strive to separate their public work from their private family lives. This compartmentalization helps create a sanctuary away from the spotlight.
As the twins grow, Sidibe and Frankel face the challenge many celebrity parents encounter: when and how to introduce their children to the reality of their careers. The decision about timing such revelations remains a personal choice that varies widely among famous families.
The desire to protect children from the effects of fame while still pursuing a creative career represents a delicate balance that Sidibe, like many actor parents, is navigating with thoughtfulness and care. Her choice to temporarily hide her profession speaks to the lengths parents will go to preserve childhood innocence and normalcy.
