It looks like if you’re pro-choice, you’re welcome under Rihanna’s umbrella. The Barbadian beauty isn’t the most outspoken celeb when it comes to politics, but you don’t want to get on her bad side.
And, like many folks out there, for her the last straw was Alabama’s near-total ban on abortions.
Ever since Alabama passed the nation’s most restrictive abortion law, it’s all anybody can talk about.
And it’s little wonder.
There are few, if any, more polarizing subjects in American than abortion, and Alabama’s law goes to greater lengths to restrict access to abortions than any law in living memory.
Alabama’s Human Life Protection Act is basically a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade.
The law expressly prohibits abortions with exemptions only in cases in which the mother’s life is threatened.
It’s incredibly strict.
Abortions are outlawed even if the mother is a minor who has been raped or a victim of incest. Doctors who perform abortions face penalties of up to 99 years in prison.
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Although the law does not come into effect for another six months, reactions to the law have been passionate.
It will almost certainly be delayed even longer for court challenges, which is heartening.
But we need to start the fight now.
Especially given that other states, including Ohio, Georgia, and Missouri have passed greatly restrictive abortion laws as well, and many other states also have legislation pending.
And so, many voices have been raised, including those of the rich and famous.
Celebrities have struck back hard against the states passing (or considering) these bans, with many refusing to bring their business to those states in protest.
They aren’t playing nice.
Such as Rihanna, who called out the 25 men who voted in favor of the bill on her Instagram.
Riri did not mince her words. She wrote:
“take a look. these are the idiots making decisions for WOMEN in America. Governor Kay Ivey…SHAME ON YOU!!!!”
And plenty of celebs had her back.
Just check out all the A-listers who liked her post: Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Cara Delevigne, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Saldana, Justin Timberlake, the list goes on.
Many other celebs have spoken out in their own ways.
Milla Jovovich, star of The Fifth Element and the Resident Evil franchise, felt compelled to share the story of her “emergency” abortion on Instagram . While filming in Eastern Europe, she went into early labor at 18 weeks pregnant and had to be awake for the whole procedure.
She doesn’t hold back.
“It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through,” she wrote. “I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless. When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns.”
Actress Jameela Jamil shared her story as well.
The Good Place star wrote on Twitter that she had an abortion and doesn’t regret it.
“I had an abortion when I was young, and it was the best decision I have ever made,” she wrote .
She believes she wouldn’t have been a good mother at the time.
“Both for me, and for the baby I didn’t want, and wasn’t ready for, emotionally, psychologically and financially. So many children will end up in foster homes. So many lives ruined. So very cruel.”
All this has spurred many, many other women to share their stories as well.
Encouraged by actress and writer Busy Philipps, who tweeted to say that most people know someone who has had an abortion, women have been moved to tell their stories under the hashtag #YouKnowMe.
As replies to those 25 men in Alabama go, you can’t ask for much more powerful and honest than that.
