Billie Eilish Slams New Abortion Law During Set At Texas Festival

Billie Eilish slammed a new abortion law in Texas during a performance in the state. Watch here:

The 19-year-old was headlining the Austin City Limits festival on Saturday (2 October) and took the opportunity to make a statement about a controversial new law that prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually at around six weeks - which is before some women know they are pregnant.

With the message 'Bans Off Our Bodies' on the screen behind her, Eilish said: "When they made that s**t a law, I almost didn't want to do the show, because I wanted to punish this f*****g place for allowing that to happen here.

"But then I remembered that it's you guys that are the f*****g victims. And you deserve everything in the world, and we need to tell them to shut the f**k up!"

After encouraging the crowd to raise a middle finger in the air, she continued: "My body, my f*****g choice!"

Instagram/@billieeilish

The abortion law - known as SB8 - was introduced at the start of last month, and as well as being extremely restrictive, it is also unusual in terms of enforcement, with citizens empowered to sue anyone who 'aids and abets' an illegal abortion.

Under the so-called Texas Heartbeat Act, a person could bring a lawsuit - even if they had no connection to the woman getting an abortion - and be entitled to at least $10,000 (£7,000) in damages if they prevailed in court.

There were hundreds of abortion rights protests held across the US on Saturday, with thousands marching at the US Supreme Court in Washington.

PA

Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, told crowds in Freedom Square that women had been forced to drive many hours across state lines - sometimes multiple state lines - to end pregnancies in the weeks since the Texas law came into effect.

She said: "The moment is dark... but that is why we are here. No matter where you are, this fight is at your doorstep right now."

It comes after the Biden administration urged US District Judge Robert Pitman to block the law.

If the Justice Department prevails, Texas officials would likely seek a swift reversal from the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously allowed the restrictions to take effect.

Topics: Billie Eilish, Celebrity, US News, abortion

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey