Busy Philipps speaks about her abortion, condemns Georgia's six-week ban
US actress and chat show host Busy Philipps has spoken about the abortion she had when she was 15.
The 39-year-old, who rose to fame in ‘Dawson’s Creek’, chose to share her own experience while discussing her concerns about Georgia’s six-week abortion plan, announced earlier this week.
The new legislation effectively bans abortions after six weeks into a pregnancy, before some women are aware they are pregnant.
In the latest episode of her talk show ‘Busy Tonight’, the mother-of-two shared her own story by way of illustrating her apprehension about the new law.
After revealing that one in four women will have an abortion before the age of 45, she went on to talk about her own experience.
“I had an abortion when I was 15 years old, and I’m telling you this because I am genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country,” she said. “And I think that we all need to be talking more and sharing our stories more.”
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Philipps explained that she believes the new bill and others like it won’t "stop anyone from making this incredibly personal choice," but they will "put more women at risk."
"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," Philipps told the audience. "Nobody else, nobody."
READ MORE: Couple's devastating decision to abort after unborn baby diagnosed with birth defect
After the show, Philipps took to social media to explain why she had chosen to share something so personal on television.
"I spoke about my abortion on my show tonight because I can not sit idly by while women’s rights are stripped away," Philipps tweeted.
I spoke about my abortion on my show tonight because I can not sit idly by while women’s rights are stripped away. https://t.co/Vk4kh4ZBJq
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) May 8, 2019
This isn't the first time that Philipps has spoken out about abortion and women's rights.
In a previous Instagram post she has opened up about her experiences in a bid to highlight the importance of the support she received when going through her own decision making process at 15.
“This is about funding that provides VITAL services that save women's lives. PAP smears, breast exams, std screening, birth control, pregnancy prevention and counselling,” she wrote. “Planned Parenthood was there for me at 15, the counsellor encouraged me to talk to my parents and I am proud to be here for them today.”
Busy Philipps isn’t the only one to speak out against Georgia’s abortion bill, Alyssa Milano has also up the pro-choice-rights cause.
The topic of abortion can spark a divisive response, as illustrated last month when a woman took to Reddit to share how she was “dumped” out of an Uber taxi after the driver figured she was on her way to an abortion clinic.