At Sunday night’s BET Awards, stars wasted no time taking a stand for abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling.
Taraji P. Henson, the host of this year’s festivities, kicked off culture’s biggest night with a powerful statement about women’s rights and gun violence. “It’s about damn time we talk about the fact that guns have more rights than a woman. It’s a sad day in America,” she said during her opening monologue. “A weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman who can give life if she chooses to.”
“F*ck the Supreme Court.”
Janelle Monáe followed Henson’s lead, also touching on the SCOTUS decision as she introduced the nominees for best female R&B/pop artist. “To Black queer artists, to Black non-binary artists, these artists 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, our decisions, and my decisions,” they stated while saluting all artists in the industry.
“F*ck the Supreme Court,” Monáe added. “I know we’re celebrating us right now, as we should. We absolutely deserve to celebrate. Especially now, we must celebrate our art by protecting our rights and our truths.”
For more information on how you can support the fight to protect abortion rights in America, you can donate to abortion funds in states that are likely to restrict abortions. You can also get involved in organizations like Vote Save America’s Adopt a State program and follow advocacy groups on social media.
Ahead, read how other celebrities voiced their support for abortion rights during the 2022 BET Awards.
