The controversial overturning of Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed people a constitutional right to abortion, has sparked celebrities and companies to speak out.
For many, Friday June 25 was a dark day. In the US, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to have an abortion across the US which had been in place since 1973. Now, states are free to make their own legislation and it’s expected that over 20 states will ban or heavily restrict abortion following the controversial ruling.
As expected, many celebrities as well as companies have spoken out on it, including Billie Eilish during her Glastonbury set. Other artists reacting to the news on stage at Glastonbury included Kendrick Lamar and Phoebe Bridgers.
One of the most vocal supporters of reproductive rights has been Bungie, a video game company that Sony is looking to acquire currently. Sony has been navigating a tricky situation after an email from CEO Jim Ryan became public. Bungie had previously posted a blog post in May, opposing the overruling of Roe v. Wade and has now posted an update in which they campaign for reproductive freedom as a human right. “We remain undeterred in our commitment to stand up for reproductive choice and liberty” the post states.
It seems that gaming companies in particular have been very vocal on the matter. Naughty Dog and its co-president Neil Druckmann, best known for their massive, award-winning The Last Of Us franchise, tweeted out in support of “reproductive freedom.”
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) June 24, 2022
I support NARAL in access to reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. If you have the means, please join me in volunteering or donating. And thank you to PlayStation for the generous match. https://t.co/QLEZiobOFw pic.twitter.com/KJT3EmpmAO
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) June 24, 2022
Ubisoft also tweeted a powerful message for the studios fans, stating “reproductive rights are human rights, women’s rights are human rights, trans rights are human rights, and equal rights for all are essential to a world where everyone can be their authentic selves and thrive.”
https://t.co/DXKcGmPJp0 pic.twitter.com/ti64jXB0m7
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) June 24, 2022
Insomniac Games, Bethesda and Sucker Punch are also among the companies who have publicly pledged solidarity with people affected by the ruling. Several celebrities have also spoken of their anger and frustration, with Madonna, Michelle Obama and Taylor Swift among those who have tweeted about it.
Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong stated he’s going to renounce his US citizenship over the news. Danny DeVito simply tweeted “Supreme court my ass.”
Supreme Court my ass
— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) June 24, 2022
Many companies are also committing to covering travel expenses for employees to travel to other states for abortions. These companies include such media giants as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony as well as Bungie among others.