In a recent episode of Bravo’s “Married to Medicine,” Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Walters engaged in a conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris about the alarming maternity mortality rates that Black women face in the United States.
While the scene aimed to shed light on the issue, it has now sparked controversy after an old video clip surfaced, revealing the OB-GYN’s previous comments about pregnant Black women.
Dr. Walters, a respected Atlanta OB-GYN with over 20 years of experience, has been a prominent figure in the medical industry and a cast member of “Married to Medicine” since its debut a decade ago.
During a YouTube Live video with fellow castmate Dr. Heavenly Kimes, she expressed concerns about Black women being taken seriously during pregnancy, suggesting that they should avoid complaining excessively to ensure their concerns are addressed seriously.
“Sometimes as African American women, we’re a bit more dramatic, and that you go to the doctor and you complain and you complain and you complain, and you’re not taken seriously because you cry wolf the entire pregnancy,” the 65-year-old doctor said during the video.
As the video snippet circulated on social media, critics argued that her recent advocacy for addressing maternal health disparities in Black communities contradicted her earlier stance.
Black Twitter, in particular, called out the inconsistency between her past comments and her current efforts to raise awareness about the issue.
In response to the growing backlash, Dr. Walters posted a quote from former NFL player Deion Sanders on her Instagram story, urging followers to stay calm and focused amid frustration.
She also released a statement on Instagram, addressing the controversy and asserting that her words were taken out of context.
“Recently, a clip from a nearly 2-hour video was taken out of context to make it appear that I, somehow, take lightly what I have advocated for concerning the devastating problem facing the Black maternal health crisis,” the statement read.
Dr. Walters emphasized her commitment to addressing issues impacting Black maternal health and clarified that she intended to empower patients to communicate effectively with their doctors.
