As Alabama came closer to passing a bill that virtually bans all abortions, celebrities took to social media, opening up about their own experiences with the procedure and why women should have the right to choose. Stars with stories to share became even more involved in the conversation online as the state’s governor signed the bill into a law on Wednesday.
Busy Philipps
Busy Philipps, who had an abortion when she was 15 after becoming pregnant with her first serious boyfriend’s child, urged women to share their own stories as she expressed her fear for women who may not have the option in the future on her late night show.
“1 in 4 women have had an abortion,” she tweeted on Tuesday after the restrictive bill passed in the Alabama Senate. “Many people think they don’t know someone who has, but #YouKnowMe. So let’s do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let’s share it and start to end the shame. Use #YouKnowMe and share your truth.”
Not only did the hashtag go viral, but other celebrities began to share their own stories to let other women know they are not alone.
Milla Jovovich
When Alabama’s abortion ban was closer to being passed, actress Milla Jovovich took to social media to share that she had an “emergency abortion” two years ago.
“Abortion is hard enough for women on an emotional level without having to go through it in potentially unsafe and unsanitary conditions,” the “Fifth Element” star also wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “I myself went through an emergency abortion 2 years ago. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and shooting on location in Eastern Europe. I went into pre term labor and told that I had to be awake for the whole procedure. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through. I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless.”
She added, “When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns. I spiraled into one of the worst depressions of my life and had to work extremely hard to find my way out. I took time off of my career. I isolated myself for months and had to keep a strong face for my two amazing kids…The memory of what I went through and what I lost will be with me till the day I die.”
Jovovich explained that no women want to go through the trauma of having an abortion, but said “we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to. I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake.”
Jameela Jamil
Earlier this week, Jameela Jamil spoke candidly about how she does not regret her decision to have an abortion because she simply wasn’t ready.
“I had an abortion when I was young, and it was the best decision I have ever made,” she tweeted Monday. “Both for me, and for the baby I didn’t want, and wasn’t ready for, emotionally, psychologically and financially. So many children will end up in foster homes. So many lives ruined. So very cruel.”
“The Good Place” star also touched on Alabama’s move to outlaw abortion for women who even became pregnant from rape as “upsetting, inhumane, and blatantly demonstrative of a hatred of women, a disregard for our rights, bodies, mental health, and essentially a punishment for rape victims, forcing to carry the baby of their rapist.”
Jamil explained that while she doesn’t want to “diss” foster homes, she believes that without abortion, foster homes will become “inundated” and won’t be able to properly care for their children.
Amber Tamblyn
Amber Tamblyn used Philipps’ #YouKnowMe to reveal she had an abortion eight years ago.
“In 2012, I had an abortion,” the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” actress tweeted Thursday. “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I still think about it to this day.”
And like Jamil, Tamblyn explained that despite the physical and emotional toll the procedure took on her, she believes she made the right decision.
“These truths do not make me regret my decision,” she wrote. “It was the right choice for me, at that time in my life. I have not a single doubt about this.”
Tess Holliday
Using the #YouKnowMe hashtag, Tess Holliday also expressed her concern for women by opening up about having the controversial operation.
“#YouKnowMe- I’m from Mississippi, living in California, married with 2 kids, & I had an abortion,” she tweeted Thursday. “If I were still back home down south, I might not have been able to get the abortion I wanted & needed.”
She added, “My mental health couldn’t handle being pregnant again & I made the best decision for ME & ultimately my family. It wasn’t the ‘easy thing to do,’ it was excruciating on many levels, but necessary. Do I regret it or question my choice? Not at all.”
Holliday urged the public to not allow “these old white men” dictate “what to do with OUR bodies” and asked that people donate to ACLU, Planned Parenthood or NNAF Abortion Funds.
Minka Kelly
Minka Kelly posted a photo to Instagram of the lawmakers responsible for working to pass Alabama’s abortion ban along with a message about how her abortion was “the smartest decision I could’ve made, not only for myself & my boyfriend at the time, but also for this unborn fetus,” she wrote Thursday using #YouKnowMe.
“For a baby to’ve been born to two people — too young and completely ill-equipped — with no means or help from family, would have resulted in a child born into an unnecessary world of struggle,” she wrote. “Having a baby at that time would have only perpetuated the cycle of poverty, chaos and dysfunction I was born into.”
Kelly also expressed her anger that men are the ones making decisions about women and that if it were the reverse, there wouldn’t be a question on its legality.
“With all this punishment for women I wonder where all the punishment is for the men in this scenario,” she said. “By looking at the photo of all the men who are making this mess, I find it hard to believe that if it were the autonomy of a man’s body, health and life in question, I cant help but be certain we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.”
The “Friday Night Lights” actress then went on to say that if men insist on taking the choice away from women to abort, they should at least address “comprehensive sex-ed, the maternal mortality rate, free daycare, paid maternity leave.”