Studios and Stars Are Threatening to Boycott Georgia If the Abortion Ban Goes Through
Throughout the month of May, several states—including Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana, Kentucky, and North Dakota—have passed bills that could ban abortions in nearly every situation if put into effect. This has prompted a swift response from lawmakers, politicians, and activists, and now Hollywood executives and stars are threatening to boycott filming in these states if the proposed laws become reality.
On Tuesday, May 7, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill that aims to ban abortions after a “fetal heartbeat” can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy—before some people even know they're pregnant. Georgia’s bill also includes a penalty for up to 10 years in prison for medical practitioners who perform abortions. The bill includes exceptions in the event of potential medical danger to the pregnant person, or in instances of rape or incest—if a police report is filed.
This particular “heartbeat bill,” like others of its nature, was met with backlash from reproductive health care advocates. Andrea Young, the executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, called it an “assault on women's health, rights, and self-determination,” adding that the organization will challenge the bill in court, as the ACLU believes it to be a “clear violation of Roe v. Wade.” Krystal Redman, executive director of Spark Reproductive Justice Now, referred to Georgia’s heartbeat bill as a “forced pregnancy bill,” and Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast, had one warning for Gov. Kemp: “We’ll see you in court.”
Hollywood also has a message for Gov. Kemp and the state of Georgia, should the ban go into effect on January 1, 2020. Earlier this week Netflix told Variety that it would reconsider filming in Georgia, becoming the first major Hollywood studio to speak out against the ban.
“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement to Glamour. “It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there—while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to. Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.”
It would be a big loss to the state: According to Time, "Georgia’s government estimates that in 2016 alone, the film industry gave the state a $7 billion economic boost through job creation and tourism."
Disney chief executive Bob Iger said it would be “very difficult” to keep filming in Georgia should the bill take hold. “I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard,” Iger said in a statement to Reuters. “Right now we are watching it very carefully.”
In addition to major Hollywood studios, individual artists have been taking matters into their own hands. Several of the actors we reached out to declined to comment, but Broad City’s Ilana Glazer recently revealed that her upcoming film project was pulled from Georgia as a result of the ban. In an appearance on Netflix’s Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj, Glazer explained that she didn’t want to shoot in the state, adding, “Film and TV is such an advertisement for the city and for the state that it's in, and I just don't want to be there and support it, but it sucks because there are people there…. So it sucks to punish those people, but I guess you have to make a move to make a statement.”
Glazer isn’t the only big name making a statement in this way. Kristen Wiig and her writing partner Annie Mumolo have reportedly decided not to film their new comedy in Georgia, while director Reed Morano explained that she will not be filming her series The Power in Georgia as to not “bring our money to that state.” Morano added in an Instagram post: “It feels wrong for a reason. And it felt wrong to us to go ahead and make our show and take money/tax credit from a state that is taking this stance on the abortion issue. We just couldn’t do it.”
Actors Sophie Turner and Jessica Chastain also recently pledged to boycott any states with extreme abortion bans, telling Sky News they signed a letter vowing not to film in states that strip anyone of their human rights. “I have yet to tell my agents I signed it,” Turner said. “They're going to be like: ‘What? You can't work in these states?’ Yeah, I can't work in these states.'”
Similarly, several dozen Hollywood actors have signed a petition threatening to boycott filming in Georgia should the abortion bill be put into effect. In a Twitter post on March 28, Alyssa Milano shared an open letter addressed to Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and Gov. Kemp, which warned, “We cannot in good conscience continue to recommend our industry remain in Georgia if H.B. 481 becomes law.”
The letter—which was signed by Debra Messing, Laverne Cox, Christina Applegate, Gabrielle Union, and others—goes on to describe the bill as “dangerous” and “deeply flawed,” adding, “This bill would remove the possibility of women receiving reproductive health care before most even know they’re pregnant and force many women to undergo unregulated, hidden procedures at great risk to their health.” The actors note that they want to remain working in Georgia, but “we will not do so silently, and we will do everything in our power to move our industry to a safer state for women if H.B. 481 becomes law.”
"How far is [the ban] going to go? That’s what I keep thinking about," Milano recently told Glamour during an interview about her Lifetime movie Tempting Fate. "It seems to be such a strategic assault on women’s rights. It’s like one state after the other state after the other state. It’s hard to feel like you’re not down for the count.”
Other celebrities have taken a slightly different tack. Rather than participate in boycotts—which could end up hurting the states themselves—filmmakers Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams have pledged to donate 100 percent of their “episodic fees” of Lovecraft Country to the ACLU and Fair Fight Action in order to fight back against the abortion ban. “Make no mistake, this is an attack aimed squarely and purposely at women,” Peele and Abrams said in a joint statement. “We stand with Stacey Abrams and the hardworking people of Georgia, and will donate 100 percent of our respective episodic fees for this season to two organizations leading the charge against this draconian law.”
There is also still time to take action yourself—and you don’t have to be a famous actor or politician to fight back and stand up for what you believe in. There are many ways to help people in states with extreme abortion laws, like donating to organizations such as the Yellowhammer Fund, the Magnolia Fund, or the National Network of Abortion Funds. You can also volunteer to help directly if you live in one of the affected states, or get involved in grassroots efforts in your own community in order to elect officials who value reproductive health care and will fight for what is right.
De Elizabeth is a writer and editor specializing in pop culture and mental health.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
