Music stars like Halsey and Phoebe Bridgers are among those who reacted Tuesday to a leaked draft of a majority decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision protecting a women’s right to choose.
“The overturning of Roe V Wade will mark a catastrophic shift in our fundamental rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive health care,” tweeted Halsey. "We are constituents and we have the right and responsibility to fight this.”
In a statement she shared on social media, the singer called the ruling “a cruel attack on our fundamental right to choose if and when to have a child.”
Bridgers shared that she had an abortion last October while on tour.
“I went to Planned Parenthood where they gave me the abortion pill. It was easy. Everyone deserves that kind of access,” she tweeted.
Singer-songwriter Amanda Shires also made it personal. “Recently, I had an ectopic pregnancy. On August 9, 2021 my fallopian tube ruptured. On August 10, my life was saved…these are some dark days,” she shared on Twitter. “Getting darker by the minute.”
Cher warned overturning Roe v. Wade could be only the beginning, calling it an “appetizer.”
Bette Midler agreed. “If they strike down this amendment, what is to stop them striking down others that conservatives don’t agree with?,” she tweeted, calling the U.S. Supreme Court “just another political tool” and its ruling “shameful.”
Sara Bareilles said she stands “with the masses of you who are enraged and want to fight back.” The singer tweeted: “WOMEN DON’T GET PREGNANT BY THEMSELVES! Why is there zero sense of shared responsibility? It’s pathetic.”
Questlove used his platform to encourage men to support women during what he called a “state of emergency.” The Roots musician wrote: “This isn’t a ‘ahh man that’s a woman’s thing.’ Someone in our life be it your mother, your daughter, your sister, your cousin, your aunt, your next door neighbor, your girlfriend, your other girlfriend, your side jawn, your co-worker, a bff of one the aforementioned and ESPECIALLY you. If this effects them? It effects us.”
Rock guitarist Stevie Van Zandt shared: “For 40 years I’ve been telling the progressive intelligencia to stop using the word abortion. Because it’s never been the issue. The issue is FUNDAMENTAL WOMEN’S EQUAL RIGHTS! Using the word abortion creates and demands the equal passion of anti-abortion. And now it’s too late.”
The ruling is likely to inspire a shift in the way Americans vote – something noted by Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. “Maybe now the true majority will RISE THE F**K UP AND PUSH BACK! THIS is what happens when you let a bullying MINORITY run the show!”
Here are some reactions from the music community:
The overturning of Roe V Wade will mark a catastrophic shift in our fundamental rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive health care. We are constituents and we have the right and responsibility to fight this.@aclu@PPFA @AbortionFunds pic.twitter.com/zYlXSZqzCu
— h (@halsey) May 4, 2022
I had an abortion in October of last year while I was on tour. I went to planned parenthood where they gave me the abortion pill. It was easy. Everyone deserves that kind of access.
— traitor joe (@phoebe_bridgers) May 3, 2022
Here’s a big list of places you can donate to right now. https://t.co/jT0sk6CeNX
Once more for the people in the back: WOMEN DON’T GET PREGNANT BY THEMSELVES! Why is there zero sense of shared responsibility?! It’s pathetic, and I stand with the masses of you who are enraged and want to fight back. Hand me my armor. #BansOffOurBodies
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) May 3, 2022
For 40 years I’ve been telling the progressive intelligencia to stop using the word abortion. Because it’s never been the issue. The issue is FUNDAMENTAL WOMEN’S EQUAL RIGHTS! Using the word abortion creates and demands the equal passion of anti-abortion. And now it’s too late.
— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) May 3, 2022
they wage war on women
— Margo Price (@MissMargoPrice) May 3, 2022
we will fight back
Is this the latest season of The Handmaids tale?
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) May 3, 2022