Many statements came in Friday from the music world objecting to the Supreme Court’s expected yet still cataclysmic overturn of Roe v. Wade that was announced in the morning, in what quickly became an avalanche of expressions of sorrow and anger.
Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Mariah Carey, Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile, Lizzo, Phoebe Bridgers, Pearl Jam, Bette Midler, Amanda Shires, Maren Morris and many others have weighed in. Lizzo even pledged $500,000 from her upcoming tour to Planned Parenthood, with a matching grant from Live Nation.
With the Glastonbury Festival and the BET Awards taking place this weekend, we’re likely to hear from still more stars at these events as well as in their social media stands.
Taylor Swift quote-tweeted former First Lady Michelle Obama’s horrified statement, adding: “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.”
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
Harry Styles tweeted, “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.”
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
Tweeted Mariah Carey: “It is truly unfathomable and disheartening to have to try to explain to my 11 year old daughter why we live in a world where women’s rights are disintegrating in front of our eyes.”
It is truly unfathomable and disheartening to have to try to explain to my 11 year old daughter why we live in a world where women’s rights are disintegrating in front of our eyes.
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) June 24, 2022
Lizzo made her pledge to put her money where her mouth is with a Planned Parenthood donation, and said Live Nation had agreed to match her. “I’m pledging $500k from my upcoming tour to Planned Parenthood. Live Nation agreed to match— to make it 1 MILLION dollars.”
I’m pledging $500k from my upcoming tour to Planned Parenthood. Live Nation agreed to match— to make it 1 MILLION dollars
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) June 24, 2022
Brandi Carlile wrote: “I have spent the last 20 years of my life traveling to every state, city and every corner of the American landscape. From Alabama to Georgia, Texas to Tennessee, from New York to California, I have sung songs of hope, inclusivity and love to audiences reflecting those sentiments right back at me by singing along to every word. … The harrowing and unprecedented decision made by SCOTUS today does not represent the heart and soul of the faces I see everyday in America. The politics and policies don’t match the people. We outnumber the oppressors and we are unstoppable when we realize that and vote as a revolutionary body. … This can be undone. … My message today is one of hope.”
I have spent the last 20 years of my life traveling to every state, city and every corner of the American landscape… pic.twitter/7Wy5unSRpu
— Brandi Carlile (@brandicarlile) June 24, 2022
Billie Eilish spoke out in her headlining set at Glastonbury Friday night. “Today is a really, really dark day for women in the U.S.,” she said on stage, according to the BBC. “I’m just going to say that because I can’t bear to think about it any longer.” She then dedicated “Your Power,” a song about manipulative behavior by older and more powerful men, to those affected by the decision.
Earlier this year Phoebe Bridgers tweeted: “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. Here’s a big list of places you can donate to right now.” On Friday, she tweeted simply “Fucking evil,” with no need to add what she was referring to, and added a link to the Mariposa Fund abortion-care providers.
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.
Here’s a big list of places you can donate to right now. https://t.co/jT0sk6CeNX
— traitor joe (@phoebe_bridgers) May 3, 2022
Pearl Jam posted singer Eddie Vedder’s onstage comments in support of abortion rights and wrote in a caption: No one, not the government, not politicians, not the Supreme Court should prevent access to abortion, birth control, and contraceptives. People should have the FREEDOM to choose. Today’s decision impacts everyone and it will particularly affect poor women who can’t afford to travel to access health care.
We will stay active, we will not back down and we will never give up.
Elections have consequences, please join us. Text CHOICE to 855-812-VOTE
ned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram/tv/CfMQxfzj2Ra/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">A post shared by Pearl Jam (@pearljam)
Country artist Amanda Shires, who is married to singer Jason Isbell, followed up a powerful op-ed she wrote for Rolling Stone with a lengthy interview on Friday in which she demanded that more artists speak out:
“When I wrote my first piece forRolling Stone, I’d had an abortion before. Since writing that op-ed, I have had reproductive healthcare — that some might call an abortion — when I was hospitalized in Texas on August 9, 2021, with a ruptured fallopian tube caused by an ectopic pregnancy. For those who are unfamiliar, it is impossible for an ectopic pregnancy to go to term. I would have died; my daughter, Mercy, would have lost her mother; my husband, Jason, would be a widower.
“I was lucky,” she continued. “This happened to me two and a half weeks before Texas’abortion banwent into effect. And I was still dealing withallof it two and a half weeks later. I mean, only just now — nine months later, interestingly enough — have I returned to having normal periods. This fight is about more than just abortion. I think that’s what people keep forgetting.”
Read the full article here.
John Legend posted a video of riot police outside the Capitol with the caption “Storm troopers on their way to tell women to shut up and accept government mandated childbirth. Sickening.”
Storm troopers on their way to tell women to shut up and accept government mandated childbirth. Sickening https://t.co/2zRbqHkVgR
— John Legend (@johnlegend) June 24, 2022
Bette Midler, never one to shy away from a fight, fired off a long string of tweets on Friday beginning with “They did it. THEY DID IT TO US! “
They did it. THEY DID IT TO US! #SCOTUS has overturned #RoevWade, enshrined in the Constitution as settled law for over 50 years. How dare they? This #SCOTUS is absolutely tone-deaf to the will and even the actual needs of the American people. #WakeUpAmerica
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) June 24, 2022
Alicia Keys was equally unfiltered, tweeting “Fuckin bullshit! This decision is about more than abortion, it’s about who has power over you, who has authority to make decisions for you, and who is going to control how your future turns out.”
Fuckin bullshit!!
This decision is about more than abortion, it’s about who has power over you, who has authority to make decisions for you, and who is going to control how your future turns out~ @nwlc @PPFA @ACLU @SisterSong_WOC pic.twitter/52Pj6j36Z1
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) June 24, 2022
Carole King wrote: “Reproductive healthcare is on the ballot. Organize & plan your vote.”
#vote#RoeVWade pic.twitter/qxzTZwBCOC
— Carole King (@Carole_King) June 24, 2022
Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas fired off a long series of tweets and retweets — while his sister had not yet posted at the time of this article’s publication, she has been an outspoken supporter of abortion rights and seems very likely to comment during her headilning set at the Glastonbury festival on Friday.
The simple truth https://t.co/6nUc5o2skm
— FINNEAS☮️ (@finneas) June 24, 2022
Singer Zara Larsson fired off a series of tweets as well, notably this important one:
MAKING ABORTIONS ILLEGAL WONT STOP PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEM, IT STOPS THEM FROM HAVING SAFE ONES
— Zara Larsson (@zaralarsson) June 24, 2022
Maren Morris told Rolling Stone: “Today, I hold my two year old son with tears streaming down my face because all my love and planning still wasn’t enough to protect him from being born in a country who could do this to women. Women, the ones who gave each Supreme Court Justice on the bench the right to be here, the dexterity of their pen hand,” she continues. “Tomorrow I will fight, but today I am grieving.”
Other statements from musicians follow.
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abortion is healthcare.
bodily autonomy is a human right.— Maggie Rogers (@maggierogers) June 24, 2022
When people talk about how their vote ‘doesn’t matter’ or ‘we are screwed anyway’.. well. We elected a man 6 years ago that gave 3 seats to the Supreme Court. And today those 3 people used their power to take away women and peoples rights to decide their own future.
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) June 24, 2022
just because you’re not an American citizen does not mean the overturning of Roe V Wade is none of your business. if you support womens rights and human rights you NEED to be vocal about how drastic and appalling the overturning of the constitutional right to an abortion is.
— Charli (@charli_xcx) June 24, 2022
riot girl summer
— Margo Price (@MissMargoPrice) June 24, 2022
“F*ck the Supreme Court.”
— Lorde at #Glastonbury2022 https://t.co/4FM7WddSfv
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 26, 2022
Kendrick Lamar ending his Glastonbury set with a pointed reference to RoevWade. #glastonburyfestival2022 #RoeVsWade pic.twitter/L8RzXIWJsw
— Sanny Rudravajhala (@SannyR1985) June 26, 2022
