3:48
- ABC News
- May 18, 2019
Celebrities slam Republicans over abortion laws
The "Hollywood of the South" is home to a multi-billion dollar film industry.
3:48
\"Killer Films will no longer consider Georgia as a viable shooting location until this ridiculous law is overturned,\" CEO Christine Vachon tweeted.
Killer Films will no longer consider Georgia as a viable shooting location until this ridiculous law is overturned.
— Christine Vachon (@kvpi) May 9, 2019
\"Don’t give your business to Georgia. Will you pledge with me not to film anything in Georgia until they reverse this backwards legislation?\" Duplass wrote.
Don’t give your business to Georgia. Will you pledge with me not to film anything in Georgia until they reverse this backwards legislation?
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) May 9, 2019
\"No Georgia filming on any of our projects until the unconstitutional & anti-woman law is gone,\" Neal Dodson, who runs CounterNarrative Films with J. C. Chandor, tweeted.
And actor Jason Bateman, who is starring in Netflix' “Ozark” and HBO's “The Outsider,\" which are currently filming in Georgia, told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that he will boycott Georgia if the “heartbeat bill” goes into effect.
“If the ‘heartbeat bill’ makes it through the court system, I will not work in Georgia, or any other state, that is so disgracefully at odds with women’s rights,” he said.
ABC News has reached out to the governor's office, but a request for comment on the proposed boycotts was not immediately returned.
However, some of the biggest critics of the anti-abortion legislation fear that the boycott could backfire.
A group of women from the Georgia film and media industry, who oppose the anti-abortion legislation, urged Hollywood not to boycott the state in a Change.org petition that has garnered nearly 2000 signatures.
\"It would be a great comfort to move to another place where the fights felt fair and the battles were easier to win. But that would be giving up and we are not quitters. To those who choose not to come to Georgia because of the actions of our government, we understand your reasoning,\" the petition says. \"But please know this: Georgia’s hardworking women and many men in this industry will continue to be the resistance from the inside.
\"With our voices, our art, and our daily boots on the ground, we’ll keep working for the leadership we deserve,\" the petition continued. \"Your condemnation is understandable, but what we really need most is allies. Change is coming. Your support and encouragement is appreciated, however you can give it.\"
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams -- who has also been rumored to be considering a run for the presidency -- echoed the sentiment and urged producers not to boycott Georgia. Instead, she urged supporters to help local organizations that are fighting the legislation.
“While I support those who want to live their values by not bringing their resources here, I do not want to harm the citizens of Georgia who are doing this work,” Abrams told MSNBC on Thursday.
I appreciate the energy & passion of those who have called for a boycott - publicly or quietly. While we differ on strategy, we are in solidarity. Your determination to bring attention to their hateful works & right this wrong should be lauded. Looking at you @Alyssa_Milano.
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) May 15, 2019
\"I appreciate the energy & passion of those who have called for a boycott - publicly or quietly. While we differ on strategy, we are in solidarity,\" Abrams also tweeted. \"Your determination to bring attention to their hateful works & right this wrong should be lauded. Looking at you @Alyssa_Milano.\"
In response to an Abrams tweet, Milano pledged to donate $10,000 to \"the grassroots orgs on the ground fighting against hurtful policies in Georgia\" and challenged corporations that she has partnered up with in Georgia to match her donation.
I’m donating $10,000.00 to the grassroots orgs on the ground fighting against hurtful policies in Georgia and I challenge all corporations who work in Georgia to match my donation.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 14, 2019
LET’S DO THIS. #LetGeorgiaChoose https://t.co/ZnG02C6cYO
Directors J.J. Abrams of Bad Robot Productions and Jordan Peele of Monkeypaw Productions announced in a joint statement that they will continue filming HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” in Georgia, but pledged to donate their salaries to the American Civil Liberties Union and Fair Fight Georgia.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/jordan-peele-rt-jef-180226_hpEmbed_3_14x11_384.jpg\")
“Governor Kemp’s ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Abortion Law is an unconstitutional effort to further restrict women and their health providers from making private medical decisions on their terms,\" they said. \"Make no mistake, this is an attack aimed squarely and purposely at women. We stand with Stacey Abrams and the hardworking people of Georgia, and will donate 100% of our respective episodic fees for this season to two organizations leading the charge against this draconian law: the ACLU of Georgia and Fair Fight Georgia. We encourage those who are able to funnel any and all resources to these organizations.”
And Georgia state representative Dar'shun Kendrick, a Democrat who is critical of the law, urged Hollywood not to boycott the state.
\"I have constituents who benefit from the film and industry in GA. So instead of boycotting, I am advocating for taking BACK the House and Senate to majority democrats,\" Kendrick tweeted.
I know some of you are mad at the signing of #DeathWarrant HB 481 and want to boycott the state. However, I have constituents who benefit from the film and industry in GA. So instead of boycotting, I am advocating for taking BACK the House and Senate to majority democrats.
— Dar'shun Kendrick (@DarshunKendrick) May 9, 2019
Several celebrities, including Kerry Washington, have pledged to donate to grassroots organizations to fight the law, but as this plays out in court, it has yet to be seen how the biggest players will respond.
Women should have the right to decide what happens with our bodies. Join me in donating to @fairfightaction to help provide funding to those doing the work on the ground. ➡️https://t.co/HvnbtrZfVF
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) May 17, 2019
#LetGAChoose
Missouri became the latest state on Friday to push controversial anti-abortion laws forward when the Republican-led House passed a series of sweeping abortion restrictions, including an 8-week ban. The legislation, which includes an exception for medical emergencies, but not for cases of rape or incest, is set to be signed by the state's Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
\"I’m beyond upset about the passing of new abortion bans in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio. This is Unconstitutional and Abhorrent. We can not tolerate this attack on women’s fundamental rights,\" Witherspoon tweeted.
I’m beyond upset about the passing of new abortion bans in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio. This is Unconstitutional and Abhorrent. We can not tolerate this attack on women’s fundamental rights.
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 15, 2019
And on Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a controversial abortion ban into law that makes it a felony for doctors in the state to perform abortions in all cases, with the only exception being when the life of the mother is threatened. It does not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Ivey also acknowledged that the law will face legal challenges in a statement on Wednesday.
\"No matter one’s personal view on abortion, we can all recognize that, at least for the short term, this bill may similarly be unenforceable. As citizens of this great country, we must always respect the authority of the U.S. Supreme Court even when we disagree with their decisions. Many Americans, myself included, disagreed when Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973,\" she wrote. \"The sponsors of this bill believe that it is time, once again, for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit this important matter, and they believe this act may bring about the best opportunity for this to occur.\"
Oscar-nominated director DuVernay cautioned that what happened in Alabama could impact the nation.
\"Don’t shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day. Realize that this is a warning. It’s Alabama and abortion today. It’s you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up,\" she tweeted.
Don’t move forward after reading this like everything is normal. Don’t shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day. Realize that this is a warning. It’s Alabama and abortion today. It’s you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up. https://t.co/kIz78uAU1T
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 15, 2019
And several celebrities, including Rihanna and Lady Gaga, slammed the male lawmakers who voted for the laws.
\"Take a look. these are the idiots making decisions for WOMEN in America. Governor Kay Ivey...SHAME ON YOU!!!!\" Rihanna wrote, along with a photo of all 25 white, male Alabama state senators who voted for the bill.
take a look. these are the idiots making decisions for WOMEN in America.
— Rihanna (@rihanna) May 16, 2019
Governor Kay Ivey...SHAME ON YOU!!!! pic.twitter.com/WuAjSVv6TH
ABC News' Lesley Messer and Meghan Keneally contributed to this report.
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