Lily Allen says women do not need “exceptional” reasons for abortion
The singer's comments follow her Glastonbury performance of 'Fuck You' with Olivia Rodrigo, which was dedicated to the US Supreme Court
Lily Allen has spoken out about abortion rights in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, saying that women should not have to “justify” reasons for wanting to terminate a pregnancy.
The singer-songwriter made headlines last week after she joined Olivia Rodrigo on stage at Glastonbury to perform her song ‘Fuck You’, dedicated to the members of the Supreme Court who voted to overturn the landmark decision.
Now, Allen has spoken out on Instagram, sharing her own experience of abortion and saying that women do not need “exceptional reasons”.
“I wish people would stop posting examples of exceptional reasons for having abortions,” she wrote in an Instagram Story. “Most people i know, myself included, just didn’t want to have a f****** baby. AND THAT IS REASON ENOUGH! WE DON’T HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT.
“It shouldn’t have to be said, and I think all these examples just play into the hands of the baddies.”
The singer’s impassioned performance with Rodrigo last week became one of the standout moments of Glastonbury 2022.
“I’m devastated I’m terrified and so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this,” Rodrigo told the crowd on Saturday (June 25). “I wanted to dedicate this song to the five members of the supreme court, who showed us that, at the end of the day, they truly don’t give a shit about freedom.
“This song goes out to the justices, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh. We hate you.”
Allen reflected on the performance on Instagram. “Quite emosh. Things are truly messed up,” she wrote, “but at least my babies got to see their mamma play and slay Glastonbury with their favourite pop star.
“They were very proud and so was I. I didn’t know whether I’d be able to get up on a stage like that sober again if I’m honest, a part of me thought it was all in the past. I had the most amazing day. Thanks @oliviarodrigo for having us. You smashed your first Glastonbury.”
She also teased that she may not hang up her microphone “just yet”.
The BBC also recently responded to criticism of the song’s removal from iPlayer.
Other artists at Glastonbury spoke out about the Supreme Court’s decision during their sets, including headliner Billie Eilish, who said it was a “really, really dark day for women” in the US.
Kendrick Lamar also made a statement at the end of his headline set as he closed out the festival, chanting: “They judge you. They judge Christ. Godspeed for women’s rights”.