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Celebrities and Politicians React to Leaked Roe v. Wade Opinion
Getty / Anadolu Agency
Celebrities, politicians, and people all over the country are reacting to the news of a draft opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito that could potentially strike down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that has upheld a woman’s right to an abortion. The leaked document, which is reportedly the first draft, was released by Politico on May 2.
In the wake of the news, several public figures have shared their frustrations over the troubling ruling that could abolish abortion rights if made final by the Supreme Court. Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton posted a series of tweets after reports hit; in one she wrote, “Not surprising. But still outrageous.” On May 3, President Joe Biden issued a formal statement in response to the potential decision, which details the current administration’s plans. “We do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court,” his statement read. “With that critical caveat, I want to be clear on three points about the cases before the Supreme Court . . . I believe that a woman’s right to choose is fundamental, Roe has been the law of the land for almost fifty years, and basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned.” He also added that his Gender Policy Council and White House Counsel’s Office has been preparing “options for an Administration response to the continued attack on abortion and reproductive right.”
He concluded his statement by saying, “If the Court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose. And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law.”
Ahead, see how other figures are reacting to the Court’s opinion.
Getty / Andreas Rentz
Hillary Clinton
Following her appearance at the Met Gala, the former secretary of state reacted to the news in a tweet writing, “Not surprising. But still outrageous. This decision is a direct assault on the dignity, rights, & lives of women, not to mention decades of settled law. It will kill and subjugate women even as a vast majority of Americans think abortion should be legal. What an utter disgrace.”
Clinton later shared a graphic on Instagram that reads, “Women’s rights are human rights and human rights are women’s rights.” “An extreme wing of the Supreme Court may seek to deny that fundamental truth,” she added in a caption. “They may try to force their views on a country where 70% of people want Roe upheld. We will not be quiet and we will not go back.”
Getty / Kevin Dietsch
Elizabeth Warren
In the wake of the leaked draft opinion, the US senator of Massachusetts shared her thoughts on the news via Twitter. “An extremist Supreme Court is poised to overturn #RoeVWade and impose its far-right, unpopular views on the entire country,” she tweeted on Monday. “It’s time for the millions who support the Constitution and abortion rights to stand up and make their voices heard. We’re not going back-not ever.”
The following day, she tweeted, “If an extremist Supreme Court overturns Roe, wealthy women will still get safe abortions – by travelling to another state or country. But women of colour, those with lower-incomes, and victims of abuse will suffer the most. Congress must eliminate the filibuster and protect Roe.”
She also tweeted a video of herself protesting outside of the Supreme Court on Tuesday captioned, “I am angry because an extremist Supreme Court thinks they can impose their extremist views on all of the women of this country and they are wrong. I have seen the world where abortion is illegal. We’re not going back-not now, not ever.”
Getty / Kevin Dietsch
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The congresswoman voiced her outrage over the leaked Roe v. Wade opinion on Twitter: “People elected Democrats precisely so we could lead in perilous moments like these- to codify Roe, hold corruption accountable, & have a President who uses his legal authority to break through Congressional gridlock on items from student debt to climate. It’s high time we do it.”
In another tweet, she added: “If we don’t, what message does that send? We can’t sit around, finger point, & hand wring as people’s futures + equality are on the line. It’s time to be decisive, lead with confidence, fight for a prosperous future for all and protect the vulnerable. Leave it all on the field.”
Getty / Paul Morigi
Ilhan Omar
On Monday, the congresswoman reacted to the Roe v. Wade news in a tweet: “Overturning Roe would put the lives of women across the country at risk. It would fly in the face of decades of precedent and the overwhelming majority of public opinion. And they will not stop here. Expand the court.”
Getty / Amanda Edwards
Jameela Jamil
On Tuesday, the actor posted a graphic featuring a quote from the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg via Instagram: “The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her well-being, and dignity. When the government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a full adult human responsible for her own choices.”
In an Instagram caption, Jamil wrote, “This of course applies to people of all genders who can become pregnant. But because for almost all of history we have looked at this as a woman’s issue only, we have treated it with the same disregard, nay hatred as all women’s issues. Because the patriarchy hates women, because they fear women . . . I’m so sorry. I’m so disgusted. We have time to turn this around. But we need to get motivated politically. Stop screaming at the wrong people. Start organising to put the right people in place to protect us from the ACTUAL bad people threatening the freedom of HALF THE COUNTRY.”
Getty / Matt Winkelmeyer
Phoebe Bridgers
On Tuesday, the singer posted an Instagram Story that shared her personal experience of getting an abortion. “I had an abortion on October of last year while I was on tour,” she wrote. “I went to Planned Parenthood where they gave me the abortion pill. It was easy. Everyone deserves that kind of access.” She also added a link to resources and places where people can donate.
Getty / Jamie McCarthy
Mark Ruffalo
Following reports of the Supreme Court’s potential ruling on abortion rights, “The Adam Project” actor tweeted, “I can’t believe we are here. Book burning, bans on classroom discussions about race and sexuality, the erosion of voter’s rights aimed at the poor and people of color. It’s literally a right wing crack down on democratic norms. The worst are full of passionate intensity.”
Getty / Jamie McCarthy
Whoopi Goldberg
“The View” cohost expressed her thoughts on the potential Roe v. Wade ruling during the daytime talk show on Tuesday. “This is not a religious issue, it’s a human issue,” she said. “Getting an abortion is not easy. Making that decision is not easy. It’s not something people do lightly . . . If you don’t have the wherewithal to understand that . . . then you’re not looking out for me as a human being . . . and that is not okay.”
Getty / David M. Benett
Lena Dunham
The “Girls” creator posted a photo from an abortion rights protest via Instagram on Tuesday with her thoughts on the potential Roe v. Wade ruling. “My mother raised me never to say pro-life, because the people who call themselves pro-life are using faux humanist rhetoric to disguise what they truly are: anti-choice,” she wrote in a caption. “And make no mistake, if reproductive choice is denied it is not just women and people assigned female at birth who suffer- it’s everyone who has hung their hat on the idea that America is a place where we can pursue freedom in all its forms. The overturning of a constitutional right- may I repeat, *constitutional right*- sets the stage for access to birth control to be denied (and birth control is about so much more than reproduction, as many people are dependent on it for their health), the already limited rights of our trans siblings to be repealed and for the ignorance of white cis men controlling a country they refuse to celebrate for its diversity to continue. So what can we do besides cower and rage? Let’s make our voices heard. Let’s stay close to essential organizations like Planned Parenthood and NARAL, who need us more than ever. And let’s remember that more of us know what’s right than what’s wrong when it comes to giving the people freedom to live in their bodies as they see fit.”
Getty / Matt Winkelmeyer
Ashley Nicole Black
The “A Black Lady Sketch Show” star reacted to the Roe v. Wade news on Monday in a tweet: “There’s a particular slap to the face of being told we can vote for abortion rights, by the court that gutted voting rights.” She shared the same tweet via Instagram Story as well.
Getty / Amanda Stronza
Busy Philipps
On Tuesday, the actor posted a flyer via Instagram for nationwide rallies being held at local courthouses across the country. In a caption, Philipps wrote, “Show up. Be loud. The person who risked everything to leak that document did so with the knowledge that IT IS NOT YET DONE. It’s a sham of a court put in place to do this exact thing and why? Because they’re afraid of what TRUE EQUALITY means for their own power.”
She added: “This has been in motion for most of my life, this slow crank back in time but I will be damned if I allow it to happen without a fight. Overturning Roe and Casey is against the WILL OF THE PEOPLE. It has NOTHING to do with BABIES and EVERYTHING to do with white supremacy and power hungry politicians attempting to keep systems of oppression in place. (And I don’t have time or energy to explain to you why if you don’t understand- DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH) Be angry. Be loud. Be outraged. But most of all SHOW THE FUCK UP. #bansoffourbodies #greenwave #keepabortionlegal #abortionishealthcare #abortionrights.”
Getty / Albert L. Ortega
Milla Jovovichs
On May 3, the actor and model reposted a graphic from the Women’s March Instagram page to spread the word about a rally taking place that same day. “We’re showing up. Let’s be clear: Abortion is health care. That’s why in light of the dire news that SCOTUS has voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, we’re showing up for abortion rights,” Jovovichs captioned an Instagram post.
She added: “Tuesday, May 3rd, at 5p your local time. Show up at your courthouses, federal buildings or town square to say bans off our bodies and demand elected officials take action before SCOTUS overturns Roe. Bring your families, your signs, your stories, your heart, and your commitment to save Roe and access to safe and legal abortion for all who need it. Tomorrow is just the beginning. We’re going to keep showing up with larger and larger actions in the days, weeks, and months to come.”
Getty / Taylor Hill
Mia Farrow
On Monday, the actor and activist shared a personal account recalling the years she witnessed before Roe v. Wade was put into effect. “Forced birth? Not really. I lived through the abortion ban years,” she wrote in a tweet. “The fact is that there wont be fewer abortions. Women will continue to get the abortion they need. Except those abortions wont be safe. Many, many women and girls will be mutilated or die.”
Getty / Paul Bruinooge
Amber Tamblyn
The actor and writer quote-tweeted Politico’s report of the drafted opinion on Monday and wrote, “Tonight our highest court declared war on more than half of its citizens- women and birthing people everywhere. The overturning of Roe V Wade is a political act of violence against us and we will not accept it. We will fight and we will not stop. EVER.”
Getty / Vivien Killilea
Michaela Okland
The “She Rates Dogs” podcast host reacted to the leaked Roe v. Wade opinion on Monday by sharing a personal account about how the news affects her. “I had an abortion when i was 19 and I’ve never felt comfortable talking about it online,” she tweeted. “People have terrifying opinions on the topic and even now I’m scared to speak about it. We talk about destigmatizing a lot of things but we desperately need to destigmatize abortion.”
In a second tweet, she added: “With Roe V Wade being overturned we are putting so many young and poor people at risk. The foster-care system will flood even more, children will die of abuse & lack of resources, others will take their own lives. I can’t imagine the fear of an unwanted pregnancy with no way out.”
