Hollywood reacts to Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade : 'This is actually happening'
Public figures and Hollywood stars are expressing their outrage over a monumental alteration to women's rights in the United States.
On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, putting an end to federal protections of abortion rights that started in 1973. The decision puts abortion laws up to the state level; many expect about half of U.S. states will ban abortion, the Associated Press reports.
Barack and Michelle Obama each shared their own stunned perspectives on the matter, with the former president calling the move an attack on "the essential freedoms of millions of Americans."
Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 24, 2022
Michelle posted a lengthy letter addressing the "horrifying" turn of events that have left her "heartbroken," noting what a major step back the decision marks.
My thoughts on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/9ALSbapHDY
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 24, 2022
"This is what our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers lived through, and now we are here again," her statement said. "The horrifying decision will have devastating consequences."
Taylor Swift shared the former first lady's post, writing that she is "absolutely terrified that this is where we are - that after so many decades of people fighting for women's rights to their own bodies, today's decision has stripped us of that."
I’m absolutely terrified that this is where we are - that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that. https://t.co/mwK561oxxl
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 24, 2022
Shonda Rhimes expressed her surreal feeling in the wake of the news, writing: "This is actually happening."
This is actually happening.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) June 24, 2022
Bette Midler condemned the decision as she called out members of the Supreme Court and pointed out its shattering of a 50-year-old law.
"They did it. THEY DID IT TO US! #SCOTUS has overturned #RoevWade, enshrined in the Constitution as settled law for over 50 years," Midler wrote. "How dare they? This #SCOTUS is absolutely tone-deaf to the will and even the actual needs of the American people. #WakeUpAmerica."
They did it. THEY DID IT TO US! #SCOTUS has overturned #RoevWade, enshrined in the Constitution as settled law for over 50 years. How dare they? This #SCOTUS is absolutely tone-deaf to the will and even the actual needs of the American people. #WakeUpAmerica
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) June 24, 2022
Echoing her statement, Patricia Arquette denounced the judicial body, noting that the right to carry weapons appears to be more protected than "autonomy over our own bodies."
"This Supreme Court is an absolute disaster," the actress wrote on Twitter. "From giving people the right to carry guns to taking away women's rights of autonomy over their own bodies. We weren't being reactive, we saw it coming."
This Supreme Court is an absolute disaster. From giving people the right to carry guns to taking away Womens rights of autonomy over their own bodies. We weren’t being reactive we saw it coming.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) June 24, 2022
Kathy Griffin, Alyssa Milano, Sophia Bush, Elizabeth Banks, and many others also shared their anger over the decision on social media.
Everybody gets a gun but nobody gets bodily autonomy. America.
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) June 24, 2022
Thinking about Anita Hill today. Thinking about what she went through.
Believe women. Please.— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) June 24, 2022
Today’s Supreme Court ruling overturning #RoeVsWade will have deadly consequences, with the harm falling hardest on people of color who already face disproportionate discrimination in our country and grapple with a severe maternal mortality crisis.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) June 24, 2022
Earlier this month, Billie Eilish set her anger about the leaked decision draft to music when she debuted the song "TV" with the lyric "the internet's gone wild watching movie stars on trial / While they're overturning Roe v Wade," a reference to the public appetite for the Johhny Depp/Amber Heard trial.
NME published its interview with Eilish Friday, and in it, she addresses her frustrations with the priorities of online discourse.
"I was in this state of depression, losing my own rights to my own body, and then I'd go on the internet and it would be people giving their take on this trial," she says. "Who f------ gives a f---? Women are losing rights for their bodies, so why are we talking about celebrities' divorce trials? Who gives a s---? Let them figure it out on their own. The internet bothers the s--- out of me sometimes…"
Speaking at the White House Friday, President Joe Biden called it "a sad day for the court and for the country," according to the AP. On Twitter, he added that "We need to elect more state leaders to protect this right at the local level. We need to restore the protections of Roe as law of the land."
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