Jennifer Lawrence recently turned to people who don’t have kids, and she didn’t hold back. As SmartLess podcast host Sean Hayes explained why he and his husband chose not to have children, Jennifer jumped in, saying that the way people react to that choice feels strange and unfair.
Lawrence then went on to explain exactly why those conversations about child-free people bother her so much, and that explanation led straight into one of the most direct things she has said about parenting so far.
Jennifer Lawrence Believes Parenthood Requires 100% Readiness
Lawrence was talking with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett on the ‘Smartless‘ podcast when Sean explained why he and his husband, Scotty, do not have kids. He said neither of them feels completely sure about becoming parents. Because of that, Sean explained that if Scotty were 100% ready, he would say yes, but since both of them sit closer to 85%, that does not feel fair to a child.
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Jason then added that pregnancy gives people time to get used to the idea of raising a child and mentally prepare for it. However, Jennifer pushed back right away. She said that when someone tells her they are unsure, she wants to tell them not to do it.
At the same time, she called it “so weird” that people act shocked when someone says they do not have kids, especially when becoming a parent can be so overwhelming that many parents end up thinking, “What the f just happened?”
Why Jennifer Thinks Society Has It Backwards About Child-Free Couples
After that, Jennifer said the pressure is aimed at the wrong people. Instead of pushing child-free couples to explain themselves, she believes people who want children should be asked why. It is because that decision changes an entire life.
Beyond that, Jennifer also talked about how becoming a mom changed things for her. Jennifer talked about how becoming a mom changed her relationship with work. She once said motherhood feels like a “blister.”
In case you missed it: “You’d Be A Great Dad”: Jennifer Lawrence Leaves Leonardo DiCaprio Speechless With An Awkward Compliment
More recently, she told The New York Times that having kids is “sacrificial.” She explained that it is rewarding. But it also means giving up the freedom she once had to take on any project she wanted.
Lawrence added that she struggles with how much she loves being creative. Even sometimes, she has called it “vain and selfish,” even though her kids and family always come first. Even so, acting still matters deeply to her, and she said she would not feel complete without making movies.
In her personal life, she shares two children with her husband, Cooke Maroney, and a second baby who arrived in 2025. Jennifer didn’t really ask people to avoid having children. Instead, she is saying the choice needs to be honest and thought through.
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