This weekend was the launch party for the latest Bravontrepreneurial enterprise: Chris Laurita’s “Little Kernel” popcorn. Chris’ step-daughter, Ashlee Holmes, stole the spotlight with a little kernel of her own, however, as she revealed that she is pregnant!
“Had so much fun at @thelittlekernel launch party tonight !!” Ashlee wrote on Instagram. “[My fiancé Pete Malleo] and I are so happy to announce that we’re sprouting a little kernel of our own *coming this fall* !!! ??❤️”
Returning Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jacqueline Laurita was quick to congratulate her daughter with an Instagramma post:
“The beautiful couple @ashleenicholexx & @c3peteo are expecting!” she wrote, along with the photo above. “I’m going to be a #Glamma ???#pregnancyannouncement #SOExcited” Pop-to-be Pete also captioned an Instagram photo of himself with Ashlee: “Super excited to announce that @ashleenicholexx and I will be having a baby!” He later added on Twitter: “Just want to thank everyone for the warm wishes. I can not wait to meet our baby!” 
But, thanks to the internet, it wasn’t all warm wishes for the expecting parents, as Jacqueline was criticized by some for getting pregnant before getting married. Ashley first responded with this graphic:
A photo posted by Ashlee Nichole (@ashleenicholexx) on
Ashlee followed that up with another text graphic and a long list of celebrities that had children out of wedlock:
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy, Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson, Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied, Adele and Simon Konecki, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves, Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham, Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen = couples who had a baby before making it to the alter (and this list goes on and on). I am POSITIVE that none of their children are ANY LESS loved or taken care of because their parents didn’t have a marriage certificate first. Life happens. Get off my back. It’s 2016. We are not ashamed of my pregnancy AT ALL. @c3peteo and I are already so in love and cannot wait to meet him/her. Everything happens for a reason and I’m confident that this is the way things are supposed to be. If you have a problem with this AMAZING blessing… you can unfollow me. I promise not to miss you and your negative energy.✌?️?? ps. You aren’t invited to the wedding.
Well said, Ashlee. 🙂 Congratulations to you and Pete! If you want to show your support for Ashlee’s little kernel, she is asking for baby name suggestions:
Send me baby name ideas… ✍? ( I already have a pretty big list BUT it’s fun to see what people say )
— Ashlee N. Holmes (@ashleeholmes) March 21, 2016
