The woman was Sherri Shepherd’s surrogate puts the former “The View” co-host on full furnace blast for acting ignoring her own baby.
Inside Edition spoke with Jessica Bartholomew, the baby surrogate to Shepherd and Shepherd’s then-husband Lamar Sally. Bartholomew is speaking out for the first time about Shepherd’s decision not to be a part of Lamar Jr.’s life.
Bartholomew carried and delivered Lamar Jr., but the baby was conceived from Sally’s sperm and another woman’s donated egg. Bartholomew tells Inside Edition that, even though she did sign a contract through her surrogate agency, her name was put on the birth certificate as a “noncustodial parent” because she says Shepherd refused to sign the document.
McInerney: “Because your name is on the birth certificate, how has it affected you?”
Bartholomew: “It’s affected me a lot. I am now listed as a noncustodial parent in California. I have a child support case coming against me now.”
Because Lamar Jr. has health problems, Sally applied for Medi-Cal, a California state program that provides free or low-cost health coverage for families with limited income and resources. Now, Bartholomew says that the state of California is going after her for child support because she is the mother listed on the birth certificate.
Bartholomew: “Because [Shepherd] doesn’t want to be a part of the baby’s life, I have to pick up all the slack with my name being on the birth certificate, a noncustodial parent, medical bills. I’m still considered the mother of a child that’s not mine.”
Furthermore, Bartholomew says Sherri simply stopped communicating with her when she made the decision to not be in her son’s life. Sherri’s ex is the one who told her that he and Shepherd were getting divorced. It wasn’t until later that she learned that Sherri was backing out of the surrogacy.
Bartholomew: “I am angry with Sherri because she never once contacted me to tell me what was happening. It was kind of like I was left out in the cold.”
Bartholomew says that early in the pregnancy Shepherd seemed excited.
Bartholomew: “She would call up and check on me during the pregnancy in the beginning. At the 20 week appointment, she seemed very excited. She was going to see the baby for the first time…I didn’t see any warning signs right away.”
Jessica does have some words for what she would say if she could speak to Shepherd.
Bartholomew: “I would ask Sherri why she did what she did – if she thought it was okay to do something like that…I just don’t understand how she can act like this baby is nonexistent. It just blows my mind.”
Inside Edition also spoke with Sally, who says “[Jessica] must be going through hell. I really feel sorry for her. I just want to apologize for putting her in the middle.”
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