This week, black celebrities at the BET Awards lashed out against the US Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe vs Wade. SPUC has commented that the “unhinged” remarks at the BET ceremony were especially tragic, given that it is black babies who statistically suffer most from abortion in the United States.

Many black singers, actors and celebrities attended the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards in Los Angeles on 27 June. They were there to celebrate black achievements in such fields as music, sport and acting over the past year.

Some attendees took the opportunity to denounce the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs Wade, the 1973 ruling that imposed abortion on all US states. Following last Friday’s announcement, however, states can now decide their own abortion laws. Many states have already activated “trigger laws” banning abortion, as reported by SPUC.

“F*** you, Supreme Court”

Introducing nominees for the best female R&B/pop artist category, Janelle Monae, the US singer-songwriter, exclaimed: “F*** you, Supreme Court.”

“Artists are making art on our own terms, owning our truths and expressing ourselves freely and unapologetically in a world that tries to control and police our bodies, my body and our decisions”, Monae said.

The winner of the category, Jazmine Sullivan, also used her time in the spotlight to implore men who have benefited from abortion to speak out as well.

“I want to speak directly to the men”, Sullivan said. “We need y’all. We need y’all to stand up, stand up for us, stand up with us.

“If you’ve ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, you need to be standing.

“This is not just a woman issue. This is everybody's issue. We need your support more than ever.”

Planned Parenthood’s racist past

In recent days, the black American singer, Lizzo, pledged $1 million (£810,000) to Planned Parenthood, the biggest killer of black Americans. In 2016, it was revealed that more black babies were aborted than born in New York.

Planned Parenthood has been estimated to kill 247 black Americans every day. The pro-abortion giant was founded by Margaret Sanger, infamous for her open support of the racist eugenicist movement.

In 2020, Planned Parenthood attempted to cover up its racist past by removing Sanger’s name from a Manhattan abortion facility.

“Thoughtless” celebrities ignorant to plight of black babies

SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “The backlash against the reversal of Roe vs Wade is becoming even more hysterical as thoughtless celebrities parade their ignorant support for abortion, which in some US cities has led to more black babies being aborted than born. This is the truth that Janelle Monae needs to be made aware of and ‘own’.

“The fact that this horrific assault on the black unborn is being celebrated at an awards ceremony dedicated to black achievement is a profound tragedy that entirely contradicts the spirit of the event. 

“How many other talented black celebrities might have attended this ceremony if they hadn’t been aborted?

“As for Jazmine Sullivan; supporting selfish men for (not surprisingly) using abortion to facilitate their gross misuse of women for their own pleasure (without consequences) is practically unhinged, especially in the era of #MeToo.

“Sullivan’s irresponsible comments, enabling selfish men to stand up for a grossly unchivalrous ethic, is an insult to the multitude of women who have suffered from men’s lack of accountability.

“But Sullivan is right in one vital regard – this is a men’s issue as well, though Sullivan totally misses the point.

“Men should not be placing women in the position of having to have an abortion in the first place, says SPUC. As we have pointed out before, ‘Men ought to hold themselves to a higher standard.’ Women also have a part to play in maintaining this standard too. That includes Jazmine Sullivan.”