On June 24th, the Supreme Court overturned 1973’s historic Roe v. Wade.
CNN shared an opinion which stated that the decision is that the “most consequential Supreme Court decision in decades and will transform the landscape of women’s reproductive health in America.” From now on, abortion rights will be in the hands of states. At the moment, 21 states already have laws or amendments in place that ban the right for a woman to get an abortion.
Four more states will be following the same line of course and ban abortions without federal protections in place.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion, which was leaked last month:
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”
The joint dissenting opinion also included Justices Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor, who also criticized the majority for such a ruling by writing:
With sorrow, for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection, we dissent.
Chief Justice John Roberts wasn’t among the majority and stated that he wouldn’t have overturned Roe v. Wade. However, he believed in upholding Mississippi’s law regarding banning abortions after the first trimester or 15 weeks.
Protest at the Supreme Court following reports that the Court will overturn Roe v. Wade.
Hollywood took to Twitter to Voice its Shock at the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
Popstar icon and singer Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) retweeted the former First Lady’s letter and shared her own feelings:
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
Author and host Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) said that just because Roe v. Wade is overturned, it’s not like people will stop getting abortions:
People will still get abortions.
These procedures won't stop just because Roe v. Wade is overturned.
This will only prevent safe, legal abortions from taking place.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) June 24, 2022
The “Hunger Games” star Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) made a fair comparison between owning a gun but not the right to make decisions about your body:
Everybody gets a gun but nobody gets bodily autonomy. America.
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) June 24, 2022
The 54-year-old actress and activist Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) didn’t hold back in the least and declared that the Supreme Court is an absolute disaster:
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
Emmy-winning documentary producer and director Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) penned down her thoughts by saying:
We can learn to love to fight, we can learn to fight with love, we can learn to live in love and risk and decency, or we will live thwarted , embittered, and angry lives. It was when the “pro-lifers” traded these things for victory they lost the moral high ground. #RoeVsWade
— Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) June 24, 2022
Former National Finance Chair of Draft Biden in 2016, Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) also demanded that instead of putting an end to abortions, the government should be banning guns:
If banning abortion "stops abortions," let's ban guns and stop gun violence.
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) June 24, 2022
Comedian Ashley Hesseltine (@AshHess) also voiced that she was embarrassed to be an American citizen with the Roe v. Wade overturning decision:
Oh ok so states can ban abortions but they can’t ban guns THIS COUNTRY IS A FUCKING EMBARRASSMENT
— Ashley Hesseltine (@AshHess) June 24, 2022
Screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) also believed guns were a more pressing matter than abortions:
If guns got pregnant, they'd be allowed abortions.
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) June 24, 2022
Comedian, screenwriter and actor Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) mocked Supreme Court’s decision by saying:
The dude who cried about beer on TV has made a BIG decision about your life, ladies!
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) June 24, 2022
The “As It Was” singer Harry Styles (@Harry_Styles) said it was a truly dark day for America:
I’m absolutely devastated for the people of America today.
Check on your friends.
Look after each other.
We’re all in this together, and the fight is just beginning.
A truly dark day for America.
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) June 24, 2022
Actor, director, producer, and author Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) said:
I was considering reselling my guns to the government but after a quick background check discovered they have a history of violence and instability.
— Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) June 21, 2022
The pop duo Aly & AJ (@alyandaj) were also saddened to be Americans after the decision was made:
Sad day to be an American ?? between Roe vs. Wade & NYC gun laws being struck down ?
— Aly & AJ (@alyandaj) June 24, 2022
TV talk show host Andy Cohen (@andy) called the decision twisted:
What a sad day for this country. Guns for everybody and no reproductive rights. Twisted. Twisted.
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) June 24, 2022
Comedian Chris Redd (@Reddsaidit) mocked the decision by Supreme Court:
“Women can’t decide what to do with your bodies anymore and we watched The Purge and felt that’s a great way to handle gun control” – the supreme dumbass court
— Chris Redd (@Reddsaidit) June 24, 2022
While replying to a tweet by Shannon Watts, actress Carrie Coon (@carriecoon) said:
The “states’ rights” argument has always been a tactic, not a principle. https://t.co/JTDqu2p95A
— Carrie Coon (@carriecoon) June 24, 2022
Actor from “Thirtysomething” Ken Olin tweeted his feelings without holding back:
We knew it was coming.
DON’T WHINE.
VOTE.
DON’T BE SILENT.
VOTE.
DON’T BE DISCOURAGED.
VOTE.
If you want a woman’s right to choose
Safer gun laws
Clean air & water
People to be able to marry whoever they love
VOTE.
There are more of us than them.
So:
FUCK TRUMP’S SCOTUS!
VOTE!— Ken Olin (@kenolin1) June 24, 2022
On May 2nd, a leaked draft opinion began circulating among the Supreme Court justices with the possibility of the highest court overturning Roe v. Wade (1973), a law that legalized abortions on a federal level.
According to Justice Alito:
“It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade on Friday, Hollywood has to make up its mind regarding where they’d be willing to do business. Abortions are banned in Oklahoma and Louisiana, two states where tax incentives have been provided to courting productions. Georgia and Los Angeles are the two most important production hubs that are likely to ban the procedure as well.
Oklahoma and Louisiana already had “trigger” bans in place for abortion and as soon as the decision was overturned, the law snapped into effect immediately. In the upcoming weeks, a number of states will be following suit: Idaho, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, Tennessee, South Dakota, Texas, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Utah.
It goes without saying the entire country is outraged that just 9 people get to have such a say over 330 million people. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is indeed a dark day in the history of the United States of America.
Hollywood has always been vocal about expressing its emotions and thoughts. When the Texas Restrictive Abortion Laws came into effect last year, Billie Eilish reacts against it and wished men cared more.
Many artists have never shied away from opening up to their fans. Jessie J revealed how she suffered a miscarriage and delivered a tearful performance in a concert in Los Angeles. She thanked her fans for supporting her during such a hard time in her life and believed performing is good therapy for her.
Let us know your thoughts regarding the ongoing situation in the country in the comment section below.
Jane Davies
