Busy Philipps opened up about having an abortion at 15 in an emotional monologue on her show

Reproductive rights have been consistently challenged for years, and now, with more and more states attempting to pass restrictive abortion laws, the need to defend these rights feels more urgent than ever. Because of this, Busy Philipps is talking about the importance of reproductive rights—including her own experience with abortion.

On May 7th, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill into law that would ban abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, which usually happens around six weeks into a pregnancy. The Georgia “heartbeat” bill has been controversial for months because it would effectively outlaw abortion before most women even know they’re pregnant. On Busy Tonight that evening, Philipps addressed these issues head-on in an emotional and candid monologue.

"I know that people feel very strongly about abortion, but let me just say this. Women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them, she said. “Nobody else. Nobody."

Philipps continued by explaining that making abortion illegal won’t stop abortions from happening, but it will make the procedure more dangerous for those who seek it. She added that abortion is more common than most people realize, saying that she herself had one at 15.

“Every woman deserves compassion and care, not judgment and interference when it comes to their own bodies,” she said. “The statistic is one in four women will have an abortion before age 45. And that statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion.’ Well, you know me. I had an abortion when I was 15 years old, and I’m telling you this because I’m genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBDIXa568XY

Fox News reported that Philipps first disclosed she had an abortion in her memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little. The Freaks and Geeks actress wrote that she was shamed by her then-boyfriend’s mother for having the procedure, although her own mom was supportive of her decision.

Abortion is an issue that affects so many women and families, and the stigma must end. We applaud Philipps’s bravery in sharing her personal story on such a public platform, and we sincerely hope it helps change some hearts and minds on this issue.