Celebrities bravely discuss their experiences with abortion -

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decided to officially overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that once guaranteed the right to abortion in the United States. The consequence of the court's 6-3 conservative majority now means that states have now banned or restricted access to safe abortions, putting the lives of so many women at risk. This sparked a wave of celebrities to speak out about their personal experiences in an attempt to destigmatize abortion and turn the tide of conservatism restricting women's healthcare. 

A similar attack on women's rights occurred back in May 2019, when the Alabama Senate voted to pass a bill that would outlaw almost all abortions in the state. Numerous female celebrities came forward with their abortion experiences. Actress and TV host Busy Philipps was the most outspoken voice at the time, and since then thousands of women posted in support of the #YouKnowMe campaign, recounting their experiences with abortion.

Click through the following gallery to see the countless famous faces who have opened up about their abortions and read their stories.

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Jennifer Grey -

Grey expressed her devastation at the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and reiterated just how important those laws were for her personally: “I wouldn’t have my life. I wouldn’t have had the career I had, I wouldn’t have had anything.” In her 2022 memoir, 'Out of the Corner,' Grey recalled her unstable teenage life — living with an older man at the age of 16 who cheated on her, gave her multiple STDs, and unwanted pregnancies. She said she felt "physically ill" thinking about her own daughter going through the same thing at that age, especially without safe access to abortion. 

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Jameela Jamil -

The actress and activist took to Twitter to recount her experience, stating that her abortion was the right choice for her and the unborn child she was unprepared for emotionally, psychologically, and financially.

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Jameela Jamil -

She expressed sadness for the children who are compelled to go into foster homes and criticized the 2019 Alabama bill as "upsetting, inhumane, and blatantly demonstrative of a hatred of women, a disregard for our rights, bodies, mental health," and even a punishment for survivors of sexual assault.

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Rita Moreno -

Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Rita Moreno decided to share her personal experience of a failed abortion in the early 1970s when she was pregnant with her then-boyfriend, Marlon Brando. It was reported that Brando had paid a doctor to perform the abortion, but unfortunately, the procedure was not carried out correctly, putting Moreno's life at risk. Reflecting on her own experience, Moreno acknowledged, "There are many of us. I'm thinking what are we going to do about this? If anything, this has reactivated us."

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Meadow Walker -

Paul Walker's daughter came forward to share her personal experience in light of the ruling. On social media, she revealed that she underwent an abortion last year and expressed gratitude for her supportive doctor, who guided her through the challenging process. She emphasized that this medical professional played a crucial role in her journey towards becoming a content and healthy individual today. “Now, knowing even more women won’t have the opportunity to seek safe termination and choose their bodies first is absolutely heartbreaking.” She concluded, “Banning abortion doesn’t prevent abortions, it prevents safe abortions."

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Stevie Nicks -

In 2014, Nicks clarified the rumors regarding her abortion with Don Henley, the lead singer of the Eagles. This incident is said to have inspired her song 'Sara.' She told Billboard, "Had I married Don and had that baby, and had she been a girl, I would have named her Sara."

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Busy Philipps -

Busy Philipps discussed her own experience with abortion during an episode of her show 'Busy Tonight.' The actress revealed that 25% of women undergo this procedure and emphasized, “Maybe you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion.’ Well, you know me.”

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Naya Rivera -

The late 'Glee' star acknowledged the potential for judgment when she decided to share her story in an essay, but said, "I wanted to let other women facing the same difficult decision know that they weren't alone."

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Gloria Steinem -

The feminist activist discussed her abortion at 22 years old, which occurred before abortion was legal, during an interview with NPR. "I had been doing all of the foolish things that we then did [to terminate a pregnancy], like riding horseback, throwing ourselves down stairs." She said that was a better alternative than being forced into marriage with the wrong person and a life that wasn't her own.

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Uma Thurman -

In September 2021, there was a significant event in Texas as Senate Bill 8 was passed, effectively implementing a ban on abortion in the state. Thurman, in an op-ed for the Washington Post, bravely disclosed her personal experience of undergoing an abortion. She shared that she found herself pregnant during her late teenage years after engaging in a sexual relationship with an older man while working on an acting assignment in Germany. Despite the potential risks involved, Thurman chose to share her story in order to offer hope to other women and girls who may be struggling with shame and fear. "he abortion I had as a teenager was the hardest decision of my life, one that caused me anguish then and that saddens me even now, but it was the path to the life full of joy and love that I have experienced."

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Vanessa Williams -

In an interview on 'Nightline,' Vanessa Williams shared her experience of undergoing an abortion during high school. "Being pregnant is the most frightening thing that happens in your life. I knew in high school that's something that I was not prepared to do, or fight, or struggle with."

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Minka Kelly -

The American actress disclosed on Instagram that she has undergone an abortion, stating, "It was the smartest decision I could've made, not only for myself & my boyfriend at the time, but also for this unborn fetus," as the child would’ve been born into poverty and out of trauma.

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Minka Kelly -

She also questioned the omission by pro-life advocates to address topics such as comprehensive sex education, maternal mortality rate, free daycare, and paid maternity leave. Additionally, she emphasized that "women do not get pregnant alone."

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Joan Collins -

In 2010, 'Dynasty' star Joan Collins revealed in an interview with Piers Morgan that she had no regrets about having an abortion in her mid-20s with her then-fiancé Warren Beatty. She firmly stated, "It would have been absolute career death for me to have done that … it would have been unthinkable to have a child."

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Joan Collins -

She added that neither of them had any money, "and I believe if you are going to bring a child into the world that you have to have a responsibility to that child."

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Margaret Cho -

The comedian frequently incorporates discussions about abortion into her performances, as she revealed to XOJane. She has personally experienced abortions and wishes to openly discuss this topic, regardless of differing perspectives. She further emphasizes that "If males had to have abortions, it would be something that was routinely discussed and the emotional life of it would be really examined."

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Milla Jovovich -

The actress recounted her experience of having an emergency abortion on Instagram, stating that it was a deeply distressing ordeal. "It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through." She explained that no woman wants to go through an abortion, "But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to."

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Nicki Minaj -

In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, the rapper confessed to undergoing an abortion during her teenage years. "It was the hardest thing I'd ever gone through," but added, "I wasn't ready. I didn't have anything to offer a child."

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Whoopi Goldberg -

Goldberg recounted her abortion experience in an essay for Angela Bonavoglia's book, 'The Choices We Made.' She disclosed that she terminated an unwanted pregnancy at the age of 14 and resorted to dangerous solutions. "I was more afraid of having to explain to anybody what was wrong than of going to the park with a hanger, which is what I did."

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Chelsea Handler -

Chelsea Handler shared her personal experience of having two abortions at the age of 16 in an essay for Playboy. She acknowledged her own irresponsibility during that period and recognized that she was not prepared to be a parent. "I'm grateful that I came to my senses and was able to get an abortion legally without risking my health or bankrupting myself or my family."

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Rose McGowan -

The actress and activist responded to a tweet claiming that abortion is "common, normal, and safe." She stated, "I have had an abortion and I support this message. I am not ashamed, nor should you be."

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Rose McGowan -

She stated that despite being on birth control, it had failed and she recognized that she could not bring a child into the world she was striving to transform. "I do not regret my decision and it was not made lightly. If you do not want an abortion, don't get one. My body, my choice, my life."

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Sinead O'Connor -

The Irish singer, according to Nylon, went through a planned pregnancy, but her relationship with the father turned sour. The situation became overwhelming for him, and due to being on tour and constantly feeling unwell, she made the choice to terminate the pregnancy. She stated, "If I had had the child, I wouldn't have been in any state to be the mother that child would have deserved."

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Sharon Osbourne -

The media personality underwent an abortion at the age of 17, following her first sexual experience. In an interview, she opened up about the shame associated with the procedure, especially from her mother. "I went alone. I was terrified. It was full of other young girls, and we were all terrified and looking at each other and nobody was saying a bloody word."

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Halsey -

Halsey recently shared her personal experience with abortion in an open letter published in Vogue. In the letter, the singer responded to questions about whether becoming a mother had changed her views on abortion. "The answer is firmly no. In fact, I have never felt more strongly about it." She continued, "My abortion saved my life and gave way for my son to have his," Halsey continued, explaining elsewhere that one of her three miscarriages required an abortion because "my body could not terminate the pregnancy completely on its own and I would risk going into sepsis without medical intervention." She continued, "Every person deserves the right to choose when, if, and how they have this dangerous and life-altering experience. I will hold my son in one arm, and fight with all my might with the other."

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Sherri Shepherd -

During a heated discussion on 'The View' about abortion, Shepherd shared her own personal experience as someone who has had multiple abortions. She emphasized the importance of giving women the choice to terminate a pregnancy if they are not in a suitable position to care for a child. «

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Sherri Shepherd -

Regarding the Texas law mandating sonogram footage viewing prior to abortion, Shepherd shared her perspective, stating that if she had been required to witness the fetus, "I would have put my child in a lot of situations that wouldn't have been good because I didn't have the mental capacity to deal with having a child."

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Billie Jean King -

The well-known tennis star made the decision to have an abortion prior to achieving success in her career. In an interview with Makers, she explained her reasoning, stating, "The reason I had an abortion is because I was not in a good place. I was just finding out about my sexuality. I was trying to figure my life out. I was trying to get the tour started. I just did not want to bring a baby into the world."

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Jemima Kirke -

The actress recently revealed her experience of getting an abortion during her college years. She clarified that she believed it wouldn't have been fair to bring a child into the world under those circumstances, as she lacked the financial means even for anesthesia. Additionally, she didn't want to establish a lasting connection with the person involved.

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Miranda July -

The writer and actress participated in the #YouKnowMe hashtag and shared on Twitter, "I was 27. My then-boyfriend, who was big on 'pulling out in time,' thought we should consider having it and I said something like DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I AM ON THE VERGE OF DOING?? 2 years later I started shooting my first feature."

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Lil' Kim -

In 2000, the rapper recounted to The Washington Post that she had undergone an abortion when she discovered she was pregnant with Biggie Smalls, a topic that she touched on in her song 'Hold On.' Speaking of her lyrics, she stated, "I talk about the things that women have gone through that they don't think I've gone through."

See also: Celebs who placed their children for adoption

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