Lily Collins’ husband, Charlie McDowell, is addressing social media critics who are sharing “unkind messages” about their newborn daughter being birthed by a surrogate.
“Thank you for all the kind messages and love. We are overjoyed and very grateful,” McDowell wrote in a comment under the couple’s joint post from Friday that shared the news of Tove’s birth.
“In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby— it’s ok to not be an expert on surrogacy. It’s ok to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It’s ok to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume,” he added.
“And it’s ok to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people’s lives. That’s all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper.”
“Emily in Paris” star Collins and McDowell, a writer and director who is also the son of actors Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowell, have been married for three years.
Olivia Munn, Priyanka Chopra, Elizabeth Banks have been public about surrogacy
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Olivia Munn and John Mulaney, Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, as well as Naomi Campbell and Elizabeth Banks, are among celebrities who have been open about using surrogacy to expand their families.
Though not everyone shared their journeys to choosing surrogacy, several of them have been candid about health complications contributing to fertility issues.
Munn and Mulaney welcomed their daughter Méi June in September. Munn froze her eggs for the third time at 42 years old following her breast cancer diagnosis and underwent an oophorectomy and hysterectomy, which removed her uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, during cancer treatment.
“This journey has made me realize how grateful I am to have options for not only fighting cancer, but also having more children if we want, because I know a lot of people don’t have those options,” Munn said in a May interview with Vogue.
Speaking with Net-A-Porter for a November 2019 cover story, Banks revealed, “I definitely think I’m still judged for what I’ve done and that people don’t understand my choices, but I don’t feel I owe anybody any explanation.
Banks, who has had difficulty with embryo implantation and says she is unable to carry a pregnancy, added: “If my story helps people feel less alone on their journey, then I’m grateful for that.”
CORRECTION 2/4/25: Mercedes says that the GT63 S E Performance sedan has been on sale in the U.S. since the 2024 model year and arrived at dealerships in summer 2024. Mercedes says that the model year changeover for 2025 is currently underway, with the E Performance sedan gaining new optional MANUFAKTUR Signature paint choices for 2025.
UPDATE 2/3/25: The Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance sedan, originally set to reach the U.S. for the 2023 model year before being delayed to 2024, is now finally set to become available in the U.S. for the 2025 model year. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine is still paired with a single electric motor. This story has been updated to reflect minor changes to specifications. Mercedes claims the sedan will go from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and will top out at 197 mph. Pricing for the GT63 S E Performance will start at $200,100.
Lost in the horde of online commenters lamenting the replacement of the V-8 with a four-cylinder engine in the latest Mercedes-AMG C63 was a new nameplate, E Performance—and some of these new hybrid models do in fact still use V-8 engines. In the U.S., we’ve gotten the S63 super-limo so far, and this hybrid setup actually first appeared two years ago on the GT63 S E Performance. Originally slated to debut in the United States for 2023, the hybrid four-door has been delayed. When it finally does arrive stateside, however, it will sport a sharp new face, with Mercedes revealing a refreshed version for Europe.
When asked about the E Performance’s absence, Mercedes told us that it would reach the United States for the 2024 model year with more details to come as part of a future announcement. We have a strong feeling that the U.S.-bound E Performance will include the revised bodywork from the new European model.
The most obvious change is the grille, which now sits within a larger opening with a black intake below the chrome vertical strakes, drawing inspiration from the new Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe. The bumper looks cleaner, with thin air vents on the outside and a subtler lower grille opening. Mercedes also updated the features list, although it’s unclear how Mercedes will package U.S.-market models. There is now a standard electric sunroof and wireless phone charger for the rear seats, and the standard Burmester surround sound system incorporates Dolby Atmos spacial audio, like the new E-class and other updated Mercedes-Benz models.
The hybrid powertrain is unchanged, with the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 paired to an electric motor on the rear axle for a total of 831 horsepower and 1032 pound-feet of torque. That thrust is sent through a nine-speed automatic gearbox to all four wheels, with the electric motor powered by a 4.8-kWh battery. The E Performance also has air suspension as standard, and a new color, Opalite White Metallic, joins the lineup. Mercedes should reveal information about the U.S.-spec GT63 S E Performance in the coming months.
