Jameela Jamil: 'Abortion Was The Best Decision I Ever Made'

As more and more states pass laws effectively banning abortion, Jameela Jamil reveals she had one and has no regrets

Jameela Jamil isn’t exactly known for backing down from a worthy fight. The Good Place actress is outspoken on social media against sexism, racism, societal beauty standards, fat shaming — basically she’s constantly fighting to make the world a better place.

That includes this week, when Georgia and Alabama passed some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, laws that will make abortion virtually (and in some cases, actually) unattainable to so many women. In protest, Jamil revealed that she had an abortion when she was younger, and called it “the best decision [she] ever made.”

“This anti-abortion law in Georgia is so upsetting, inhumane, and blatantly demonstrative of a hatred of women, a disregard for our rights, bodies, mental health,” she wrote in a Twitter thread that viciously attacked the new laws restricting women’s access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.

“I had an abortion when I was young, and it was the best decision I have ever made. Both for me, and for the baby I didn’t want, and wasn’t ready for, emotionally, psychologically and financially. So many children will end up in foster homes. So many lives ruined. So very cruel,” she continued. “Ps.. this isn’t any diss at ALL to foster homes. I’m in awe of people who take in children in need of a family and a home: but if Georgia becomes inundated with children who are unwanted or unable to be cared for, it will be hard to find great fostering for them all.”

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1128017765288239105

While abortion remains legal in other states, Jamil also pointed out that traveling in order to access healthcare isn’t a luxury all women have access to, and that these laws will have the most effect on poor and disabled women, and those who are working class and unable to take time off to travel to another state should they need an abortion.

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1128027149863022593

In the last week, Georgia passed a law that bans abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant. And yesterday, Alabama’s governor signed a new law that bans abortion at any stage, unless the mother is in danger. Both states follow Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio, who all already passed laws this year that restrict abortions. The good news is that these laws will be legally challenged — Planned Parenthood already vowed in a statement that they would sue the state of Alabama over its new law — and they’re pretty blatantly unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has already upheld women’s right to get an abortion. These states are fighting a battle they already lost.

But the reality is that with any laws restricting any kind of healthcare for women, it is women who actually lose. Banning abortion won’t actually stop women from getting abortions — it will just keep women from having access to safe abortions performed by professionals. If politicians want abortions to stop, they need to fight for comprehensive sex education for kids and easy, free access to contraception and family planning services.

With voices like Jameela Jamil joining this fight, we have strong people standing up for women’s rights. But this fight is depressingly far from over.