Days after the Supreme Court overturned a near-century ruling that allowed national access to abortion, Hollywood voices against the measure continue to respond. Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver (The Daily Show with John Stewart, The Colbert Report) took the decision to task in the most recent episode of HBO’s weekly late-night talk show, according to Deadline.
“The only thing I know for sure right now is that this week was heartbreaking,” Oliver said according to Deadline. “It was enraging. It was a supreme injustice. And it was, if I may quote the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, ‘some absolute bulls***.’” Oliver even called out some specific individuals including former Vice President Mike Pence.
After the decision, Pence tweeted that “life won” as twenty-six states can now proceed with making abortion illegal for individuals who bear children, according to Deadline. Oliver pointed out how this comment is characteristically untrue as for some “disabled people and other vulnerable groups, pregnancy can be a death sentence.”
He also delivered a response to a Texan Attorney General who had declared June 24, the date the decision was announced, a new holiday and that he was closing his office in celebration. Oliver pointed out there shouldn’t be another holiday to acknowledge “the loss of rights for millions of people” when Columbus Day already exists, via Deadline.
In addition to states preventing access to this sometimes life-saving option, some states will soon criminalize those who may travel to another state for the procedure, as well as anyone assisting those individuals.
“We’re in uncharted territory here,” Oliver said via Deadline. “When you hear people say we’re returning to a pre-Roe landscape that’s not entirely true. The message it sends is pretty clear: we don’t care if pregnancy kills you, we don’t care if you don’t want to pregnant, we don’t care about you at all.”
Oliver added that technology has granted many the ability to track their period, a convenient tool in this day and age, according to Deadline. But in the wake of this announcement, that technology can now be used against an individual as states could penalize someone if they believe the app or software could be used to deliberately terminate a pregnancy.
Oliver isn’t the only celebrity making noise about the paramount decision. Full House’s Jodie Sweetin was seen protesting in Los Angeles when she was absconded by LAPD police. And many companies have announced current or new health policies that support employees who may travel to seek pregnancy-related health services.
View Oliver’s opening comments regarding the abortion ruling below.