Meghan McCain's Husband Defended Her from Body-Shaming Critic — He Adores to Cook and Helped Her during Pregnancy
- Meghan McCain and her husband, Ben Domenech, have been together for over eight years and married in 2017.
- The couple welcomed their second daughter in January 2023, just a few years after Meghan revealed her miscarriage.
- Meghan has been "fat-shamed" most of her life and has become accustomed to it.
- Her husband, John, shields her, always tries to help, cooks for her, and is always ready to defend her from malicious critics.
Meghan McCain, now 38, is a talented writer and television personality known for her strong and conservative views. In addition to her public persona, she is also a dedicated daughter and wife.
Born on October 23, 1984, in Phoenix, Arizona, Meghan gained fame through her appearances on shows such as "Outnumbered" on Fox News Channel in 2016 and "The View" on ABC Network in 2017.
Meghan McCain attends the 2015 Trevor Project NextGen Fall Fete on November 13, 2015, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Growing up in a political family, Meghan is no stranger to the spotlight from a young age. Her mother is businesswoman and diplomat Cindy McCain, and her father is the late U.S. Senator John McCain.
The multihyphenate is the eldest daughter of the late politician and his wife, Cindy. Meghan's three siblings are John Sidney IV McCain, James McCain, and Bridget McCain.
Meghan's most notable moments in the political sphere include her appearance at the 1996 Republican National Convention at just 11 years old and her father's presidential campaign in 2008.
Meghan McCain and her late father John McCain on "The View" on October 23, 2017. | Source: Getty Images
She is married to Ben Domenech, and they are parents to two children. Ben is the co-founder and publisher of The Federalist, a conservative digital magazine that covers politics and current events.
Together, Meghan and her 41-year-old husband continue to make their mark on the world, standing up for their beliefs and supporting each other no matter the amount of criticism they face.
The Proposal and Wedding of Meghan and Ben
Meghan has largely kept her relationship with Ben private. However, during her appearance on "The Ben Shapiro Show," she shared details about the early stages of their romance.
She stated that Ben made a good impression on her and that when they went out for the first time, she shared her belief that conservative men are more invested in dating and marriage because they have "better family values."
At that time, Ben seemed to agree with Meghan's views and shared similar perspectives, which led Meghan to realize that dating a conservative man was what she wanted.
In November 2017, Meghan announced on "The View" that she had been engaged to Ben for some time. She had planned to keep it a secret, but when rumors started spreading, she felt compelled to reveal the news.
She also explained that even though her co-hosts may have already read about it on the internet, she wanted to personally share the exciting news with them.
While she never opened up about their official engagement date, she shared about Ben's marriage proposal. The proposal happened at the Mayo Clinic while her father was undergoing a medical examination.
Ben's unwavering support throughout John's treatments deeply touched Meghan. She realized that his actions were driven by pure love, and she decided to spend the rest of her life with him.
Meghan revealed that she and Ben had initially intended to elope; however, after learning about her father's cancer diagnosis, their plans changed, and the following events took on a new perspective. Ben, on the other hand, explained:
"This brought into focus how important it was for Meghan to have her dad see her get married, and to have that happen while he was still fully there and fully able to participate. This was something that she needed."
The couple exchanged vows in a romantic and intimate ceremony shortly after their engagement, held before sunset at the McCain family's lodge in Sedona, Arizona.
The couple's special event, which had a western hunting lodge theme, was attended by 117 guests, including family members, friends, and former campaign workers.
Meghan explained that they pushed the date up because her father's cancer was uncertain, and they wanted to ensure they could all be together while he was still in good health.
She reminisced about the moment and highlighted the part where her brother James walked her down the aisle before her father met her at the altar.
She also counted herself blessed that her father was there to witness her milestone. In 2018, John passed away after a courageous fight against brain cancer. He was 81.
Navigating Privacy and Criticism While Building a Family
While the news of her father's death broke her heart, Meghan became ecstatic when she and Ben began building their little family. The couple announced in March 2020 that they were expecting their first child.
Given that she is a public figure, Meghan candidly revealed on Instagram in May of that year that they made a "conscious decision" not to share details and photos about their child. Her post read:
"I believe children have a right to privacy and hope you will all understand as we navigate this as much as possible going forward without sacrificing our comfort or safety."
Meghan's decision came from her and her family's experiences with being judged online. She expressed frustration over online critics' "inhumane" behavior, especially during her father's battle with cancer.
She shared that she has learned the hard lessons that can come with being open and vulnerable about one's personal life. Nonetheless, Meghan stated that she would remain true to herself and not change to fit what others expect of her.
She thanked the fans and supporters combined for the kind words, help, and prayers they had given her about her pregnancy during this challenging time.
Meghan and Ben officially became parents when they welcomed their first child, a daughter, Liberty Sage McCain Domenech, in September 2020, as announced by Meghan's "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, among others.
Liberty's birth happened amid the pandemic. The new mom soon tweeted and thanked the fans and the talk show hosts for their warm wishes and kindness. Meghan added:
"Ben and I are completely and utterly in love with our daughter and feeling indescribably blessed/blissed out."
In February 2021, Meghan updated her fans by posting a picture of her smiling and cuddling with her husband in bed while their little daughter slept close by.
The photo did not show a glimpse of their daughter in the picture, and Meghan captioned it by calling Ben her "shelter from the storm" and including the hashtag "mom and dad."
Despite Meghan initially stating that she wouldn't share pictures of her child, she shared a beautiful photo of her family on Father's Day in June 2021, a tribute to her husband.
In her sweet caption, she praised Ben for being an incredible, loving, and selfless father, expressing how lucky she and her child, Liberty, are to have him in their lives and her deep love for him.
Meghan may have a fondness for motherhood, but Ben is equally enamored with fatherhood. He helped her during her pregnancy and now adores cooking for her.
In January 2022, Meghan kicked off the New Year with a sweet photo of her hugging her husband behind a table with a spread of bread and some bowls of different kinds of sauces.
The couple seemed to be in great spirits, with Meghan expressing her appreciation for her husband's "bougie dinner" he cooked for her and her friends in the caption.
Five months later, Ben showed off his cooking skills again at the McCain family's home in Arizona. He smiled by the grill as he held a flipper and wore an apron his mother-in-law gave him.
Meghan shared adorable photos from her family's first Halloween celebration in November in Washington. She, Ben, and their daughter Liberty were all dressed up for the occasion.
Liberty, who had grown into a toddler, looked adorable with her pigtails, skeleton costume, and pumpkin basket. One of Meghan's photos featured a scary Halloween display.
While Meghan and her daughter matched their costumes, Meghan playfully noted that Ben "went all out" by just wearing a shirt featuring an image of a death reaper.
The spooky season held extra special for Meghan as she announced her second pregnancy with a mirror selfie showcasing her baby bump.
Ben Defends Meghan against Body-Shamer
In December 2022, Meghan gushed over having an additional family member. She shared another photo of Liberty dressed in cute winter outfits on Instagram as she enjoyed the holiday season.
Liberty's winter fashion choices included boots, sweaters, a jacket, and a headband adorned with deer horns. In her post, Meghan said that she didn't think of herself as an "Instagram mom" but as a "mother of dragons."
However, some online naysayers dampened Meghan's joyful mood about her second pregnancy. A Twitter user expressed hate towards the T.V. presenter, pointing out Meghan's abundant bosom as "fat."
The hateful comment did not sit well with Meghan's husband. Without a doubt, Ben quickly retorted, "I must inform you it does not make me a loser" to have Meghan as his wife.
The Twitter user's attack on Meghan stemmed from Ben's earlier tweet about former U.S. President Donald Trump's unsuccessful actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered a Twitter discourse.
Several Twitter users were shocked by the remarks between the body shamer and Ben. On the other hand, Meghan read the message and re-tweeted her husband's response with the caption, "OH MY GOD – BEN."
In 2019, Meghan candidly shared on "The View" her struggles with fat-shaming and how it affected her career in the entertainment industry. She said:
"I want to say if I weren't fat-shamed, I wouldn't have a career. I'm fat-shamed every day. Every day somebody on Twitter is like, 'You're too fat to be on 'The View.' It is so cruel."
Meanwhile, Meghan spoke about the challenges she faced in maintaining a healthy weight, revealing that her weight would fluctuate between 20 and 30 pounds and, at times, even more.
Meghan has faced criticism from social media users in recent years. One fan commented on a photo of the couple, expressing their opinions on Meghan's appearance and political views.
A fan's rude comment on Meghan McCain and Ben Domenech's Instagram photo. | Source: Instagram/meghanmccain
Two Twitter users brutally commented about Meghan's weight and labeled her a "loser," while another called her "fat." Meanwhile, another critic even insulted her late father and claimed Meghan never loved her dad.
Although she has endured criticism for a long time, her husband is always ready to protect her. They have been together for more than eight years, and he always takes care of her.
Meghan also urged people to be more understanding and compassionate towards those who are struggling in life rather than focusing on criticizing others' physical appearances.
Additionally, she highlighted the importance of addressing poverty and lack of access to healthcare as crucial factors in the prevalence of health issues, such as obesity, in the country.
Meghan's Heartache: Losing a Child and Moving Forward
In addition to facing criticism, Meghan also endured the heartache of losing what was supposed to be her first child. The famous T.V. host wrote a lengthy essay for the New York Times (NYT) in July 2019 about how she unexpectedly became a mother.
She revealed in her article that her pregnancy was a "surprise," and then she suffered a miscarriage, which she claimed happened "a few weeks ago."
Meghan only discovered her loss when she had a scheduled shoot for an NYT cover story about "The View." She looked back at the pictures from the shoot and described it as a woman who hid her "shock and sorrow."
She shared she struck a pose for the camera during the shoot to convey the image of a "strong and stern" conservative woman. In reality, she was just actually "dying" on the inside.
Meghan initially felt responsible for her loss due to her age and working status, but eventually realized she was not entirely at fault. Despite her heartbreak, she affirmed her love and the eternal memory of her baby.
Meghan McCain attend the Netflix "Medal of Honor" screening and panel discussion at the US Navy Memorial Burke Theater on November 13, 2018, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Meghan and Ben's family had been looking forward to the arrival of their second child. Their first daughter, Liberty, was particularly excited to meet her little sister in person.
Meghan can't help but adore Liberty and thinks about how much she adores her daughter. She thought she could love anyone as much as she loved her late father.
After suffering a miscarriage in 2019, Meghan and her husband welcomed their first child in September 2020; they welcomed Clover Jade McCain Domenech, their second daughter, who was born on 2023.
Meghan welcomed their second child on January 19 and announced the news in her Daily Mail column. She shared that the family is overjoyed about their newborn.
She has not provided a lot of updates about Clover's birth, but she posted on Instagram that they are "all feeling blissed out, happy, healthy, and exhausted!"