Billie Eilish Speaks Out On Roe V Wade During Glastonbury Set
Topics: Billie Eilish, Celebrity
Lisa McLoughlin
Featured Image Credit: BBC/Alamy
Topics: Billie Eilish, Celebrity
Billie Eilish spoke out about the overturning of Roe v. Wade during her Glastonbury set on Friday (24 June), branding it a 'dark day for women in the US'.
The Bury Your Friend hitmaker made history by becoming the youngest-ever solo headliner of the British festival, alongside fellow headliners Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar.
And what should have been a momentous occasion for the star was marred by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a landmark case meaning abortion will no longer be protected as a federal right in the US for the first time since 1973.
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Introducing her song, 'Your Power', Eilish, who was joined on stage with her brother Finneas O’Connell, explained the meaning behind the song and told the crowd, 'today is a really, really dark day for women in the US'.
The Happier Than Ever singer shared: "The song we’re about to do is I think one of the favourites that we’ve written and 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 joins many musicians in sharing her reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark case.
Taylor Swift notably tweeted: "I’m absolutely terrified that this is where we are – that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that."
Phoebe Bridgers, who was also performing at Glastonbury, led chants of 'f*** the Supreme Court' following their decision.
I’m absolutely terrified that this is where we are - that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that. https://t.co/mwK561oxxl
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 24, 2022
The Sidelines singer, 27, recently revealed that she 'had an abortion on tour' in a powerful Twitter post in May.
In light of the outcome, Bridgers stopped her performance on the John Peel Stage to say: "It’s super surreal, but I’m having the s****iest time.
“Are there any Americans here? Who wants to say, ‘F*** the Supreme Court?’ One, two... F*** THE SUPREME COURT,” she added, before the crowd chanted back.
On Friday, the United States Supreme Court announced it had overturned the 50-year-old Roe v Wade ruling that granted millions of women the legal right to abortion.
The move comes as the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the state in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization case, in which the state of Mississippi argued for a new law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Roe v Wade, which was established in 1973, legalised abortion nationwide up to the point of foetal viability, which is generally accepted to be around 24 weeks into pregnancy.
The United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.
— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) June 24, 2022
Today is a dark and heartbreaking day in our country’s history.
The court ruled in favour of the state by a majority vote of six to three, in turn making it so individual states across North America will now be able to introduce bans on the procedure.
Half of the states in the country are already expected to introduce new restrictions or bans, with 13 states, including Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi having already passed so-called trigger laws that mean a ban on abortion will automatically go into effect following the Supreme Court's ruling.
Others will reactivate dormant laws that will in many cases make it illegal to access abortion, possibly even when the conception has resulted from rape or incest.