Recently several American states went full Handmaid's Tale, passing draconian abortion laws that sparked outrage. Georgia banned abortion at the six week mark, when the embryo is the size of a pea, and many women do not know they are pregnant yet. Then 25 Alabama men said "hold my moonshine" and passed a law punishing doctors who perform abortion - a legal procedure for 46 years - with up to 99 years in prison. An exception is made when the woman's health is at risk, but not in cases of rape and incest.
Afterward, Missouri passed an abortion ban starting at the eight-week mark, when the embryo is about as big as a raspberry. Of course, these bans are unconstitutional. With Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court ruled that fetuses aren't people and the Constitution's "right to privacy" protects the woman's right to terminate a pregnancy. Therefore, states may not place an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions. However, that's exactly what Republican lawmakers are doing, in hope of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
Watch Busy Philipps speak out against Georgia's controversial abortion banIn the wake of these controversial bills, several women shared why they had an abortion on Twitter, creating the trending hashtag #YouKnowMe. In addition, several Hollywood stars spoke out against the bans, including Lady Gaga, Reese Witherspoon and Rihanna. What's more, David Simon's Blown Deadline Productions, Christine Vachon's Killer Films and Ozark star Jason Bateman pledged not to shoot in Georgia if the bill becomes law. (Which it did.)
Due to a generous 30% tax rebate, The Peach State enjoys a robust film and TV industry consisting of an estimated 92,000 jobs. Recent high-profile productions in Georgia include The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, The Hunger Games, Ozark, The Vampire Diaries and Guardians Of The Galaxy. Critics say a boycott will only hurt the little people in production, since Governor Brian Kemp already signed the bill into a law. However, a boycott would likely send a strong message to politicians by hitting the state where it hurts: the economy.
On Monday, Variety reported that Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the creative team behind the hit film Bridesmaids, will no longer shoot their second movie in Georgia. A representative confirmed that they pulled the production due to the anti-abortion bill. The film is a buddy comedy called Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and follows two friends who go on their first vacation in Vista Del Mar, Florida. They "soon find themselves tangled up in adventure, love and a villain’s evil plot to kill everyone in town," according to the synopsis.
Other producers have opted to shoot in Georgia, but pledge their salaries or make a significant donation to organizations like the ACLU, who will fight to overturn to turn the abortion ban. These productions include J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele's Lovecraft Country, Peter Chernin's Fear Street's and Imagine Entertainment's Hillbilly Elegy. On Twitter, actress Jessica Chastain praised Wiig's move, stating, "This is how you do it. Please men, follow her lead."