Olivia Rodrigo: Contraceptives handed out at singer’s Missouri gig
Contraceptives and morning-after pills were made available at a concert by US pop star Olivia Rodrigo in Missouri, where abortion is prohibited.
At the venue in St Louis, concert attendees were offered complimentary condoms and emergency contraception from booths.
Last month, the singer of “Drivers License” launched the Fund 4 Good campaign, a global effort supporting individuals in their pursuit of reproductive health rights.
In the United States, contraceptives such as morning-after pills are legally accessible. However, abortions are outlawed in the state of Missouri except in cases where they are necessary to save the life of the pregnant person or to prevent significant risk to their physical health.
A portion of the profits from Rodrigo’s tour, which has teamed up with the National Network of Abortion Funds, will be directed towards Fund 4 Good.
An advocate from Right by You, a text line assisting teenagers in accessing abortion care outside of Missouri, informed the Guardian that Rodrigo had extended invitations to charitable organizations, but it was their decision to distribute contraceptives.
Republican Missouri state senator Bill Eigel criticized the singer on social media, suggesting she should feel ashamed for distributing an “abortifacient,” a substance that induces abortion.
However, it’s important to note that morning-after pills work to prevent pregnancy rather than terminate it. According to the NHS website, “Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex… It should be used within 3 to 5 days following unprotected intercourse.
MSI Reproductive Choices, a non-government organization that provides contraception and abortion services in 37 countries, told BBC News “it’s great to see Olivia Rodrigo using her platform to shine a light on the importance of reproductive choice”.
“But it can never replace being able to access high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare services from a trusted provider when and where you need it,” they added.
It’s not the first time Rodrigo has made her stance on abortion public.
She used her Glastonbury debut in 2022 to protest against the overturning of Roe v Wade, which removed the federal right to abortion.
The anti-abortion movement celebrated a landmark victory, while pro-choice activists warned of a looming public health crisis.
Bringing on Lily Allen, the pair sang one of Allen’s expletive-filled tracks.
“I’m devastated and terrified that so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this,” said Rodrigo.
“I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who have showed us that at the end of the day, they truly don’t care about freedom.”
