As states pass more legislation to restrict abortion in states such as Georgia and Alabama, Hollywood and its famous faces are speaking out almost uniformly in support of reproductive rights.

Musician and actress Lady Gaga, director Ava DuVernay and more reacted swiftly after Alabama’s Senate passed a bill Tuesday night that effectively bans abortion in the state. The bill was signed into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday.

DuVernay urged women to speak up in the wake of the Alabama vote.

“Don’t move forward after reading this like everything is normal,” the filmmaker tweeted. “Don’t shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day. Realize that this is a warning. It’s Alabama and abortion today. It’s you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up.”


Lady Gaga called the move “a travesty” on Wednesday and said she was praying for the women and young girls in the state.

Georgia governor postpones L.A. visit amid Hollywood clash over abortion law »

“It is an outrage to ban abortion in Alabama period, and all the more heinous that it excludes those that have been raped or are experiencing incest …,” the pop star said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, actress Alyssa Milano, whose #SexStrike proposal didn’t go as planned last week, played it straight by posting a picture of her child and saying, “This is my daughter. Her rights are human rights.”


That was an uncharacteristically mild protest from Milano, who in March posted an open letter signed by 50 actors who work regularly in Georgia, asking the governor not to sign HB 481, which, starting Jan. 1, will prohibit abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat exists.

This is my daughter. Her rights are human rights. #WomensRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/CHWeyfr4tM — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 15, 2019

Don’t move forward after reading this like everything is normal. Don’t shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day. Realize that this is a warning. It’s Alabama and abortion today. It’s you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up. https://t.co/kIz78uAU1T — Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 15, 2019


Several people focused on the fact that only men voted “yes” on the bill. The 35-member Alabama Senate has only four women, all of whom are Democrats. Two of those women voted against the bill, with one abstaining and the other a “pass,” either absent or not voting.

Rihanna on Thursday wrote on Twitter, “Governor Kay Ivey … SHAME ON YOU!!!!”

Calling the law “absolutely unbelievable,” Chris Evans wrote on Twitter: “This is why voting matters!!”

“These statehouses are waging all-out war on women and their right to control their reproductive decisions,” wrote singer John Legend. “This is awful.”


take a look. these are the idiots making decisions for WOMEN in America.

Governor Kay Ivey...SHAME ON YOU!!!! pic.twitter.com/WuAjSVv6TH — Rihanna (@rihanna) May 16, 2019

This is absolutely unbelievable. If you’re not worried about roe v wade, you’re not paying attention. This is why voting matters!! https://t.co/gZ5lrj7tQ1 — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) May 15, 2019

These statehouses are waging all-out war on women and their right to control their reproductive decisions. This is awful. https://t.co/noOY2pEsqX — John Legend (@johnlegend) May 15, 2019

Once the law goes into effect, in six months barring the expected court challenges, all abortions will be banned in Alabama, including after rape or incest, unless the health of the woman were in critical jeopardy.


This law and another signed last week by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp — which had some filmmakers promising to boycott the state and prompted Kemp to change his travel plans — are largely seen as steps toward getting abortion laws heard by the Supreme Court, with an eye on overturning the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that made abortion legal nationwide.

Filmmaker Mark Duplass was among those pulling out of the state, saying, “Don’t give your business to Georgia. Will you pledge with me not to film anything in Georgia until they reverse this backwards legislation?”

Don’t give your business to Georgia. Will you pledge with me not to film anything in Georgia until they reverse this backwards legislation? — Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) May 9, 2019

If you are a man that understands that women should have the choice to have a abortion if they want then retweet this. #WomensRights — Vincent D'Onofrio (@vincentdonofrio) May 16, 2019


Dear Hollywood: Georgia’s new abortion law means you have to stop shooting there. Now »

Meanwhile, reacting to last week’s Georgia law but ahead of actress Busy Philipps starting her #youknowme abortion awareness campaign, actress Milla Jovovich on Tuesday shared the story of her own abortion on Instagram.

George Takei spoke out against filming in Georgia as long as the new law stands, but spun out a wry joke after the Alabama news.

And Rosanna Arquette tweeted out, “Alabama is No sweet home” before launching into a series of retweets pertaining to the issue.


Keep up the pressure. Don’t film in Georgia. Pass this along. https://t.co/XjnG9C5Nzt — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 10, 2019

Georgia: We’re going to be the worst state in the union to be a woman.



Alabama: Hold my beer. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 15, 2019

Alabama is No sweet home — Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) May 15, 2019

I’m beyond upset about the passing of new abortion bans in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio. This is Unconstitutional and Abhorrent. We can not tolerate this attack on women’s fundamental rights. — Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 15, 2019


British singer Dua Lipa stood “in solidarity” with other women, she said Thursday on Twitter.

“How is it that abortion gets banned before guns? Our rights need to be heard,” Lipa wrote. “And we have a right to be outraged.”

Actress Jameela Jamil predicted Wednesday on Twitter that a ban on abortions would greatly boost the number of unwanted children in the Alabama foster care system, as well as poverty and welfare needs.

“Hope the people of Alabama who want the abortion ban are up for donating their money and space to the MEGA influx of kids in need of care, coming your way,” she wrote.


Not your body. Not your choice. No justification needed. No man should be making such a fundamental decision on a womans body. How is it that abortion gets banned before guns? Our rights need to be heard. And we have a right to be outraged. In solidarity with my sisters. pic.twitter.com/zd02EVmCNx — DUA LIPA (@DUALIPA) May 16, 2019

Hope the people of Alabama who want the abortion ban are up for donating their money and space to the MEGA influx of kids in need of care, coming your way. Also the poverty in Alabama will SHOOT up. Extra Welfare will be needed. It’s going to be chaos. https://t.co/VWHKjoaErr — Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) May 15, 2019

Here’s how other Hollywood stars have reacted to the new abortion legislation:

I stand with the women in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, and everywhere, who have the right to decide what happens to their bodies, as we all do. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) May 16, 2019


We are dangerously close to a post-Roe world. It’s clear that anti-abortion politicians will say and do anything, including lie about abortion and pass extreme abortion bans, to put this crucial health care out of reach for millions of people nationwide. #StopTheBans — ROSIE (@Rosie) May 16, 2019

This is a profound healthcare issue but it’s also an enormous class issue. Privileged people will still have access to abortions (as they always have) but POC mothers in poverty will be the most affected. This racist, misogynist bill is designed to keep the poor poorer. — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) May 15, 2019

27 white males just decided what Alabama women can and can’t do with their own bodies and lives. *(Males cause 100% of unwanted pregnancies) https://t.co/QfXpnwit0w — Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) May 15, 2019


I’ve been reading about the Alabama abortion ban all morning and trying to articulate how terrifying + insane this all is but all I’m left with is this boiling feeling of helplessness + anger + fear in my chest.



how do you celebrate your mother and then seek to control her? — Maggie Rogers (@maggierogers) May 15, 2019

Abortion today... all of our rights as Women next ladies, so speak up now. This is not the time to be quiet! — lisa rinna (@lisarinna) May 15, 2019


I wish we could find out how many abortions these men in power (Trump, courts, State Legislators, Governors, Congress) have paid for. — Paula Poundstone (@paulapoundstone) May 16, 2019

Alabama @GovernorKayIvey signed the most extreme abortion ban since Roe v Wade. This isn’t a coincidence — it’s part of an attempt to ban abortion outright. And it isn’t just an attack on Alabama women, this is an attack on everyone who might or can get pregnant. #StopTheBans — Sandra Bernhard (@SandraBernhard) May 16, 2019

They’ve been gunning for Roe my entire adult life, now with this President and Supreme Court, they might finally get a chance to kill it off. In 2020, a vote for anyone with an R next to their name, is a vote against women’s reproductive rights and health. https://t.co/p5gBD2DjqO — Chaz Bono (@ChazBono) May 16, 2019

The attack on women’s rights in Alabama isn’t a coincidence — it’s part of an attempt to ban abortion outright. And it isn’t just an attack on Alabama or Georgia women, this is an attack on ALL women. This is an attack on everyone who might or can get pregnant. #StopTheBans — Laura Dern (@LauraDern) May 16, 2019


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