Lily Collins shares new photo of daughter after her birth announcement sparked unexpected debate

Lily Collins has shared another photo of her newborn daughter following her birth announcement causing a massive debate online.

Last week, the 35-year-old Emily in Paris star shared the announcement on Instagram that she and her screenwriter husband, Charlie McDowell, 41, had welcomed their daughter named Tove Jane McDowell via surrogacy.

Sharing a picture of the newborn, Collins shared the news on Instagram writing: "Words will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way.

"We love you to the moon and back again…"

Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell announced the birth of their baby last week (Dave Benett / Contributor / Getty Images)

Collins and McDowell, however, were met with an avalanche of unexpected criticism from social media commentators who, for some strange reason, took umbrage with their decision to use a surrogate.

One outraged Twitter user claimed they'd 'never forgive y’all for normalising commercial surrogacy btw', while another complained about surrogacy becoming a 'new trend for celebrities', calling it 'disgusting'.

Thankfully, the unsettling criticism towards Collins was challenged by a number of people on the same platform, with one person writing: "I need you all to stop speaking on people who you know nothing about."

The couple's daughter Tove was welcomed via a surrogate (Instagram/@lilycollins)

Another person wrote: "Everyone should stop having a go at Lily Collins for using a surrogate — it’s entirely her choice."

Since then, Collins has shared another photo of the tot.

Taking to her Instagram Story this afternoon (4 February), she reposted a snap originally posted on McDowell's story of her pushing little Tove in a pushchair with two red heart emojis.

"Utter bliss," she captioned the repost.

One of Collin's biggest defenders was McDowell, who also took to the comments of his wife’s post to defend her, writing: "Thank you for all the kind messages and love. We are overjoyed and very grateful."

Collins reposted her husband's photo of her out with their daughter (Instagram/@lilyjcollins)

"In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby - it’s ok to not be an expert on surrogacy. It’s ok to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It’s ok to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume.

And it’s ok to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people’s lives."

He concluded his message by saying: "That’s all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper."

Well, it's clear the new parents aren't going to let the haters get them down!