
TV personality Maria Menounos opens up about the highs and lows of becoming a mother through surrogacy, including a painful betrayal by a close friend.
- Jan 15, 2025
AceShowbiz - Maria Menounos, the former E! News correspondent, has shared a painful experience she faced after choosing to become a mother via surrogacy. In a recent podcast, she recounted an incident where a close friend judged her for not being able to carry her own child.
"This person was someone I loved and who had even worked for me," Menounos explained. "She came up to my husband and questioned why I couldn't carry. She said it didn't make sense."
Despite her husband informing her that her neurosurgeon had advised against it due to complications from a brain tumor removal, the friend remained unconvinced.
Menounos was deeply hurt by this interaction. "I decided to end the friendship," she said. "It's one thing to be judged by people who don't know you, but it's another to be judged by someone who knows exactly what we've been through."
Menounos and her husband, Keven Undergaro, had faced infertility issues and turned to IVF treatments. However, they were halted when Menounos was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2017. After the tumor was removed, she was advised against carrying a child.
Undeterred, the couple pursued surrogacy and welcomed their daughter, Athena Alexandra, in June 2023. Menounos has spoken about the "miracle" of their baby and the joy she has brought to her life. However, she also acknowledges the challenges she faced during the pregnancy, including a pancreatic cancer diagnosis that required surgery.
Despite these obstacles, Menounos remains grateful for the ability to become a mother. She has thanked the surrogate and her family for helping her bring life into the world. She also appreciates the support she has received from friends, including Zoe Saldana and Kim Kardashian, who shared advice and resources during her surrogacy journey.