Brooklyn Larsen, a former contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, is grieving the heartbreaking loss of her infant son, who was stillborn over the Thanksgiving weekend. Larsen, who appeared on season 11 of the show in 2017 and made it to the top 16, shared the devastating news with her followers on Instagram on November 29.
Larsen and her husband, Tanner Larsen, arrived at the hospital on November 24, filled with excitement, only to be told that they could not find their baby’s heartbeat. Their post revealed that the baby was “40 weeks and 2 days” along, and despite having passed all prenatal tests with flying colors, their joy quickly turned to devastation.
“We arrived at the hospital, full of excitement, only to be told the devastating news that they couldn’t find his heartbeat,” the couple wrote in their post. “Our hearts are completely shattered. Our perfect little boy didn’t make it.”
The Larsens shared their grief with black-and-white photos from the hospital, showing them holding their stillborn son’s tiny hand. “He was always measuring big, always moving, always so active,” they wrote, expressing their disbelief that something so tragic could happen to their healthy baby. “In an instant, our best day became our worst.”
Larsen previously had a son named Rome from a prior marriage. This loss follows another difficult blow for the family—Brooklyn had suffered a miscarriage earlier in 2023.
Stillbirth, the death of a fetus in late pregnancy, occurs in about 1 in 160 pregnancies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common causes can include labor complications, problems with the placenta, or a knotted umbilical cord.
Grief experts emphasize the importance of support and self-compassion in the wake of such a loss. Jeanne Cross, a licensed therapist, recommended that memorializing the baby, such as through keepsakes or ceremonies, can help families gain a sense of closure.
In Tanner Larsen’s Instagram post, he shared the poignant moment when Brooklyn delivered their son. “At 11:23am on Monday morning, Brooklyn delivered our son in less than 9 minutes. 8 lbs 10 oz of pure perfection... holding him, memorizing every feature of his, feeling his spirit—he was everything we had dreamed of.”
The Larsens' emotional journey is a reminder of the deep grief that follows such a loss and the ongoing need for compassion and support in dealing with the aftermath.