Rihanna has never been shy from speaking her mind. From speaking out in support of sex trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown to ensuring that Donald Trump will never play her music at his rallies, the Barbadian singer has often used her platform to advocate on behalf of what she believes in.
Most recently, the beauty entrepreneur took to Instagram to weigh in on the fact that the governor of Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey, signed into state law what is being considered as the nation’s most restrictive abortion bill in the country. While the U.S. may be her adopted second home, RiRi has found herself among millions of citizens who are repulsed by such a legislative decision.
“Take a look,” Rihanna wrote, sharing a photo of the male lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill. “These are the idiots making decisions for WOMEN in America. Governor Kay Ivey…SHAME ON YOU!!!!”
As reported, the new law is essentially a near-total ban on abortion, even in cases where women became pregnant by acts such as rape and incest. Under the new restrictive laws categorizing abortion as a Class A felony, doctors who perform the procedure could face up to 99 years in prison. The only instance in which abortion will be allowed legally in the state is in the event the pregnancy is a serious health risk to the mother.
Like Rihanna, millions have taken to social media to speak out against the law, including celebrities such as Lizzo, Janelle Monaé, Lady Gaga and more.
The controversial state law challenges the 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which established safe and legal abortion as a constitutional right. At the time of this report, since Alabama’s new law has not yet taken effect, the procedure of abortion remains legal in all 50 states.
Recently, “heartbeat bills” have passed in Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and Georgia, during which the states have voted to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. This can happen as early as six weeks into pregnancy, which is often before people know they are pregnant in the first place. The issue is guaranteed to be a hot topic of debate in the upcoming 2020 election.
Take a look at Rihanna’s reaction to the new law below.