Toni Braxton blamed herself when her youngest son, Diezel Braxton-Lewis, was diagnosed with autism when he was three. She had a staunch religious upbringing as a preacher’s kid, which influenced how she perceives the world.In her 2014 book, “Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir,” the Grammy winner was embarrassed to discuss having an abortion. She carried the guilt with her for many years.
Although she did the procedure primarily for medical reasons, she thought her child’s autism was divine retribution. Speaking to Hoda Kotb on “Good Morning America,” Toni admitted:
“I remember when they told me that my son was autistic, I thought, ‘Okay, you had an abortion, and this is God’s way of punishing you.'”
In another interview, she gave context surrounding her circumstances when she decided to terminate her first pregnancy. When she fell pregnant, she was on heavy-duty acne medication, Accutane, which has detrimental side effects on fetuses.
In addition, she felt selfish because she was going through bankruptcy and was fearful that she could not provide a potential child with a future. On if she still felt guilt, she said:
“I often tell myself I have three kids. I have two boys, but I often have to tell myself I have two kids. But in my head, I feel like I have three kids.”
The R&B icon had Denim and Diezel with her ex-husband Keri Lewis, the keyboardist for Mint Condition. The former couple married in April 2001 and announced their breakup in November 2009.
When the divorce was finalized in mid-2013, her representation stated that it had been “an amicable split” and the exes would “both be actively involved in raising their two sons.”...CONTINUE READING