Busy Philipps Shares Abortion Story On Her Late Night Show
Busy Philipps is ‘genuinely, really scared’ for women after Georgia’s governor signed a new, restrictive abortion bill into law
Actress Busy Philipps says that her show doesn’t tend to be political, but she put that aside last night in order to share her own abortion story and make a statement about the new bill that was just signed into law in Georgia, which bans all abortions after six weeks.
At the beginning of her late night show, Busy Tonight, the 39-year-old sat down on her couch and opened up about how she got an abortion when she was 15, and how that shaped her feelings about women’s rights, reproductive rights, and the simple health and safety of women and girls.
“I have a thing that I would like to say,” she said. “I hope that whatever it is that you believe personally that maybe you’ll be open to hearing what I’m saying.”
She continued:
“I know that people feel very strongly about abortion, but let me just say this. Women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them. Nobody else. Nobody.”
The audience responded warmly as she went on to speak about the bill itself.
“Here is the reality. No bill that criminalizes abortion will stop anyone from making this incredibly personal choice, but these laws will put more women at risk. Every woman deserves compassion and care, not judgment and interference when it comes to their own bodies. The statistic is that one in four women will have an abortion before age 45. That statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion.’”
Then she got personal.
“Well, you know me,” she said. “I had an abortion when I was 15 years old and I’m telling you this because I’m genuinely really scared for women and girls all over the country.”
At this point, Philipps was visibly emotional. But it was time to start her regular programming. She attempted to begin talking about the Met Gala, but wasn’t quite ready to move on.
“Is that a hard left turn?” she asked, after she mentioned the Gala. “Yeah, it is. Is it kind of jarring? Yes, it is also kind of jarring. But, guess what? That’s what being a f—ing woman is. Having a regular Tuesday and then suddenly being reminded that people are trying to police your body. And then you just have to go back to work.”
Philipps also wrote about the statement she made on her show on Instagram, along with posting the video.
“Yesterday, the governor of Georgia signed a bill effectively banning abortion in that state,” she wrote. “Georgia is the 6th state to pass such a bill and there are 11 states where similar legislation is pending. I get why people feel strongly about abortion (I really do-read my book), BUT I also know that women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them. Nobody else. I spoke about my abortion last night on my show because I won’t be silent while women’s rights are stripped away.”
Her fans were extremely supportive of her statement, giving her props and sharing their own stories.
The new Georgia abortion law makes it illegal for medical professionals to perform abortions beyond six weeks, or when the fetal heartbeat can be detected. Because many women don’t know they’re even pregnant that early, and many more can’t get medical appointments that quickly, the so-called “heartbeat law” is effectively a statewide ban on abortions.
The Georgia law follows several new state laws in places like Mississippi and Ohio.
The ACLU has vowed to challenge the laws in court, stating that it’s in violation of Roe V. Wade.
