Culture

From Megan Thee Stallion to Eminem: These Artists Taking a Public Stance Against the Roe v. Wade Overturn

Since the Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision, artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Janelle Monáe and others have called out the overturn.

Artists are speaking out against the Roe v. Wade overturn. Last Friday (June 24), the Supreme Court reversed the original 1973 decision in a 5-4 ruling following the draft opinion being leaked in May. A number of states have either finalized or are expected to make abortion illegal, with trigger laws in effect in multiple states including Kentucky, Texas and Tennessee.

Billie Eilish

As summer marks festival season, numerous artists have taken the stage to express their opinions on the decision. The youngest artists to headline Glastonbury Festival in England, Billie Eilish called out the Supreme Court during her set on Friday, June 24.

“It’s about the concept of power and how we always need to remember not to abuse it. Today is a really really dark day for women in the US. And I’m just going to say that because I can’t bear to think about it anymore in this moment,” Eilish said before performing “Your Power.” 

Megan Thee Stallion

Fellow Glastonbury performer Megan Thee Stallion agreed with Eilish’s sentiment on Sunday, June 24. “Now y’all know it wouldn’t be me if ain’t take a second to call out these stupid ass men. I mean god damn, what else you want? Texas really embarrassing me right now, y’all know that’s my home state,” she said during her set. 

The crowd responded with a mix of cheers and boos, before Megan led her audience in a chant.

“And I want it on the record, that the hot girls and hot boys do not support this bullshit that y’all campaigning for. My body, my m*****fucking choice! I need everybody in the audience right now to say, ‘my body, my m*****fucking choice!’”

Prior to the performance, Megan tweeted an infographic about abortion to get her followers informed.

Kendrick Lamar

Closing Glastonbury Festival was Kendrick Lamar who took a powerful stance against the Supreme Court while ending his set with “Savior,” all while wearing a diamond-encrusted crown and fake blood covering his face and attire.

“Godspeed for women’s rights. They judge you, they judge Christ,” he repeated.

Janelle Monáe

During Sunday’s BET Awards 2022 artists hit the Microsoft Theater stage with thoughts of their own on Roe v. Wade. While presenting the award for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Janelle Monáe shouted out “Black queer artists to Black nonbinary artists” before criticizing the Supreme Court.

“F*** you, Supreme Court. I know we’re celebrating us right now, which we should,” she said, putting up her middle finger. “We absolutely deserve to celebrate. Especially now, we must celebrate our art by protecting our rights and our truth.”

Jazmine Sullivan

Winning Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Jazmine Sullivanspoke directly to male viewers.

“If you have ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, you need to be standing with us. This is not just a woman’s issue. This is everybody’s issue, and we need your support more than ever, OK, fellas. Y’all got us? Because we’ve got y’all. Y’all got us?”

Read what other artists have said about the Roe v. Wade overturn below:

Eminem

Pink

Mariah Carey

Lizzo

Jaelani Turner-Williams

Jaelani Turner-Williams is a contributing news writer for Okayplayer with bylines at Billboard, MTV News, NYLON, Recording Academy and more. Read her mind on Twitter at @hernameisjae.

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