NEED TO KNOW
Charli xcx sidestepped an awkward question from Jason Bateman after the Arrested Development star didn’t realize she was married
Bateman told the singer she might reconsider wanting kids in the future when she met the right person
Charli married her husband George Daniel last July in London — the two went on to have a second ceremony in Italy the following September
Charli xcx isn’t shying away from sharing her feelings about having kids.
The singer appeared on a Monday, Feb. 2 episode of the SmartLess podcast and spoke with hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes about growing up as an only child. As she discussed whether she wants to have kids in the future, Bateman suggested her feelings might change when she meets the right person, without realizing Charli married her husband George Daniel last July.
During the episode, Charli (whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison) said she “miss[ed] out on a lot of conflict” as an only child. Bateman then asked if that meant The Moment star would like to have multiple kids, or would like to have a kid who has the same sort of experience as her.
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“I actually don’t really want to have kids,” replied Charli. When she was asked why, the “Apple” singer said, “You know, who knows? That could change.”
“I’d rather regret not having kids than have them and regret it later,” said Hayes, which Charli agreed with.
She went on to explain that she loved the “fantasy of having a child” and said that “naming it” sounds like the most “fun” part of being a mom.
“That is exactly a sign to me as to why I should not have one,” explained Charli. “The fact that that feels like the coolest part about it? Maybe I’m not ready.”
However, Bateman chimed in and said that “all that could change,” explaining that his wife, Amanda Anka, also didn’t originally want to have kids.
George Daniel (L) and Charli XCX
David M. Benett/Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty
“[Amanda] did not want to have kids, so the story goes,” said the Zootopia star. “And she said once we started going out, she was like, ‘Okay, I think I can have a kid with this guy.’ So you might find somebody.”
“Well, I’m married,” Charli replied. The “Mean Girls” singer tied the knot with The 1975 drummer this past July in London. The two then had another ceremony in Italy in September.
“I’ve got to read a newspaper one of these days,” joked Bateman in response.
“That’s okay,” said Charli. “I knew immediately where you were going to go and how I was going to respond, so I was looking forward to it.”
Bateman joked that Charli hadn’t “let [him] finish,” saying, “maybe your next husband, you’re gonna want to have kids with him.”
This isn’t the first time Charli has been open about her mixed feelings on having kids. In May 2024, the singer spoke with Rolling Stone UK and shared whether or not she sees motherhood in her future.
Speaking about her friend and songwriting collaborator Noonie Bao becoming a parent, Charli said: “It was crazy seeing her standing in the same clothes she’s always worn, but now she has this completely different perspective on life than I do. She’s not enforcing that on me; it’s just a fact. She’s not alive for the same reasons that I am now.”
On one hand, Charli said she doesn’t “want to conform to centuries of indoctrination.” However, she also said she often considers the societal implications of if she chooses to remain childfree.
“Am I less of a woman if I don’t have a kid? Will I feel like I’ve missed out on my purpose in life? I know we’re not supposed to say that, but it’s this biological and social programming,” she told the outlet.
Charli continued: “There’s a lot of pressure on women to not talk about that stuff super openly, especially not in pop music or in music generally; we’re supposed to be sexy and free and fun and wild.”
If she does decide to have children, Charli acknowledged that it would require extra planning because of her career.
“My circumstance involves me making a decision and being like, ‘I’m gonna come off my birth control. I’m not gonna tour. I’m going to see what George wants to do, and then we’re gonna try for a baby,’ ” the singer said with the caveat: “I feel like a kid; I don’t feel like I can make that decision.”
Read the original article on People