Twitter is applauding Shrill for showing what it’s really like to get an abortion
Hulu’s latest original series, Shrill, has only been available for a few days. But the Aidy Bryant-led comedy is already generating buzz. The show has been praised for its realistic portrayal of a fat woman in a society obsessed with being thin. And now, it’s also making waves for its positive depiction of abortion.
The taboo issue of abortion is addressed in the show’s very first episode. Bryant’s character Annie finds out she’s pregnant and decides to terminate the pregnancy. The camera even tracks her face as the procedure is performed, giving viewers a rare glimpse at what actually goes on during an abortion.
During a recent interview with Variety, Lindy West—who authored the memoir of the same name that inspired the show—said it felt important to include the scene. Abortion, as she noted, is extremely common. And she wanted the show to treat it as such.
"It's a super normal part of life, but we don't talk about it like it is," she told Variety. "We talk about it like it's this really fraught, complicated issue that we have to tiptoe around, and I think that does a disservice to abortion care providers and people who have abortions because it lets anti-abortion people control the narrative."
#Shrill author Lindy West on why she wanted to address abortion in the first episode: "We talk about it like it's this fraught, complicated issue that we have to tiptoe around"https://t.co/Wtb2hs5Vcn pic.twitter.com/PJgeCdPSI1
— Variety (@Variety) March 12, 2019
Many Twitter users applauded Shrill for the way it normalizes abortion.
Loved the handling of abortion in #shrill. Woman has one and moves forward with her life. Perhaps what's more challenging is dealing with the fully formed people all around her. #prochoice @NARAL @ProChoiceCA
— Lisa Glatt (@GlattLisa) March 17, 2019
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https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1107326764387315712
Only one episode in, but loving #Shrill. The portrayal of an abortion decision is so good. “I made a decision only for me. For myself.. I feel very fucking powerful.” Damn. And yes.
— Morgan Meneses-Sheets (@morgmeneshets) March 17, 2019
I just watched the first episode of #Shrill & feel so grateful — not only because it shows #abortion to be a responsible choice, but also for its accurate portrayal of men in relation to pregnancy & parenting. https://t.co/oTj2AqfDdM
— K. H. Thurston (@OliveMercies) March 15, 2019
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I went to a #Shrill premiere last night and was so overwhelmed with love, and cannot believe we got such a beautiful abortion storyline, and then I see that @RBraceySherman is on @callyrgf this morning talking about abortion rights. THE WORLD IS OURS TODAY THANK YOU.
— Katherine McGuiness (@katiecookies) March 15, 2019
According to a press release on the organization’s website, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Columbia Williamette helped create the episode’s script. They even filmed the abortion scene inside of a real Planned Parenthood clinic.
The organization applauded the show’s efforts to portray abortion on Twitter.
We're thrilled that the new show #Shrill starring @AidyBryant knows how important it is to see safe, legal abortion onscreen. Proud to have worked with @PPCW, @Hulu, and @thelindywest to highlight a positive abortion experience.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) March 15, 2019
It’s refreshing to see a series that tackles abortion in a straightforward, undramatic way. You can catch all six episodes of Shrill on Hulu now.
