An emotional confession. Busy Philipps could barely hold back her tears as she discussed Georgia state’s new “fetal heartbeat bill” and the personal reason why she feels so strongly about the issue.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill on Tuesday, May 7, that prohibits women from having an abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. This typically occurs at about five to six weeks gestation, which is often before many women know they are pregnant. Philipps, 39, spoke out about the new legislation on the Tuesday episode of her soon-to-be-canceled E! talk show, Busy Tonight.
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“No bill that criminalizes abortion will stop anyone from making this incredibly personal choice, but these laws will put more women at risk,” she asserted. “Every woman deserves compassion and care, not judgement and interference when it comes to their own bodies.”
The Cougar Town alum then spoke about her own experience. “I had an abortion when I was 15 years old,” she said through tears. “And I’m telling you this because I’m genuinely really scared for women and girls all over the country. And I think that we all need to be talking more and sharing our stories more.”
She continued, “Is it kind of jarring? Yes … but guess what? That’s what being a f—king woman is — having a regular Tuesday, then being suddenly reminded that people are trying to police your body and then you just have to go back to work.”
The former Dawson’s Creek actress first revealed her past abortion in her 2018 memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little. She recalled how her then-boyfriend’s mother called her “selfish” for making the decision to “murder a baby.” However, Philipps had her own parents to support her through the difficult process.
“The truth is, my mother is who you want in your corner when s—t goes down,” she wrote. “The way she put aside any of her own feelings about what was happening and just supported and loved me was staggering. I wish I had trusted that she would have taken care of me the year before [when I was raped], but there was no point in bringing [it up] now. One trauma at a time.”
Philipps and her husband, Marc Silverstein, share two daughters: Birdie, 10, and Cricket, 5.
Busy Tonight airs on E! Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. ET.