Olivia Rodrigo Makes Free Emergency Birth Control Pills Available at Missouri Concert After State Narrows Reproductive Rights
Olivia Rodrigo has made good on her promise to expand awareness and access to reproductive health care, inviting the organization Right by You to distribute free emergency contraceptives, condoms and information about abortion to fans on her “Guts” world tour.
Concertgoers at her March 12 show in St. Louis, Mo., were able to grab a package that includes two boxes of Julie — an emergency contraceptive that helps prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex — as well as cards with QR codes linking to abortion access resources and the Missouri Abortion Fund. Fans also reported free condoms and stickers being passed out.
More from Variety
Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Tour: The Full 22-Song Setlist From Opening Night
Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan Cover Each Other's Songs for Special Record Store Day Release
Ahead of her “Guts” tour, Rodrigo announced she had started Fund 4 Good, an initiative that “works to support all women, girls and people seeking reproductive health freedom,” she said in a video.
Rodrigo added that the fund will directly support community-based nonprofits championing girls education and reproductive rights and preventing gender-based violence. She also announced that a portion of the proceeds from her ticket sales would be donated to the Fund 4 Good, and that for her North American concerts she had partnered with the National Network of Abortion Funds, designating a booth at each of her concert stops to the organization.
Rodrigo’s advocacy comes at a time of eroding reproductive rights in the U.S. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, 21 states — including Missouri — have outright banned or severely restricted access to abortion. The Missouri Abortion Fund cheekily commended Rodrigo’s efforts in a post on X referencing one of her lyrics, writing: “It’s brutal out here in Missouri, but we are here for abortion access and hand out Plan B with @TextRightByYou.”
A statement from Julie reads: “We launched Julie to rewrite the morning-after experience for a new generation. Replacing the stigma and shame often associated with emergency contraception with access, exploration, and education is core to who we are, and we’re thankful for artists like Olivia Rodrigo and initiatives like the Missouri Abortion Fund who share our mission. Through Julie for All, for every morning after-pill purchased, we donate one to someone in need. We’re proud to have donated over 1M units to 300+ partners nationwide.”
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.