Busy Philipps starts 'You Know Me' hashtag for women to share abortion stories — and it quickly goes viral
Busy Philipps shared her truth about having an abortion — and she’s encouraging others to do the same.
After the Alabama Senate passed a near-total abortion ban on Tuesday — with no exemptions for even rape or incest victims — there was widespread fury and outrage across the internet. The Busy Tonight host used her voice to get women to “end the shame” in having the medical procedure — which, as a reminder, is still legal in all states — and to “share your truth” about it. She used the hashtag “You Know Me” and it’s gone viral.
1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth.
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) May 15, 2019
The tweet has had 2,100 retweets in half a day as well as more than 11,000 likes. Of course, it’s really about the comments. They’re brave, emotional and raw. “Prayed on my knees the morning of,” wrote one. “Cried and cried and cried. No regrets.“ Posted another, “Thank heavens for Roe v. Wade.” And there was, “The father was more than happy to pay for it too.”
Some posts were from celebrities, including The Good Place star Jameela Jamil, who opened up about her abortion for the first time this week, as well as Ashley Judd, Minka Kelly, Rosanna Arquette, Scream Queens actress Keke Palmer and director/actress Miranda July.
I was 24, in Europe, very far away from home. I was worried about my career responsibilities and afraid that I could not exist as both a career woman and mother.🖤 #YouKnowMe
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) May 15, 2019
Most of all I was scared and unsure, not ready. I made the choice that was best for me at that time.
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) May 15, 2019
— Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) May 15, 2019
#youknowme https://t.co/CBhPYHXc9y
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) May 15, 2019
I was 27. My then-boyfriend, who was big on "pulling out in time", thought we should consider having it and I said something like DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I AM ON THE VERGE OF DOING?? 2 years later I started shooting my first feature. #youknowme https://t.co/AA6kiKKz0v
— Miranda July (@Miranda_July) May 15, 2019
Well, #YouKnowMe. I was 17 when I got pregnant. Never expected to talk about it publicly, but these are unexpected times. https://t.co/e445AdIXd3
— Cindi Leive (@cindi_leive) May 15, 2019
In 2012 I had an abortion, I wasn't ready in any means to have a child I am 1 in 4 and #YouKnowMe. Post procedure I immediately cried, it was one of the hardest decisions to make but I would have not been able to grow the way I did the last 7 years if I didn't make that decision https://t.co/nZ6kTZVd6e
— Nelini Stamp (@NelStamp) May 15, 2019
I was 19 years old and in my second year of college. I knew I had degrees to finish.
I had an abortion.#YouKnowMe
I am a public school teacher in the Bronx.
My life of service and activism might not have been.
I’m grateful to have lived in New York and had access.— KatBrezler (@KatBrezler) May 15, 2019
22, very scared, unstable relationship, grieving my moms death the year before. Prayed on my knees the morning of. Cried and cried and cried. No regrets. #YouKnowMe
— GreenReen (@1mototh24) May 15, 2019
I was 25, between jobs, in a new city, and without any family or friends for support. Thank heavens for Roe v Wade.
— Cathy Kelley (@CathyKelley567) May 15, 2019
The father was more than happy to pay for it, too.
— I am so sick of this shit 😒😧 (@HEIDINOMN) May 15, 2019
I was 21 and batshit terrified. All I felt was relief afterwards. And I was on the pill. Nothing is 100%. That's why we must have access to safe care. #YouKnowMe
— lindachavers (@dorismariahphd) May 15, 2019
I was 19 and had a 3 year old and had just discovered my boyfriend was smoking crack....it wasn’t an easy choice but I felt I had no choice
— TakeAStandCassan 🧜🏽♀️ (@curliemermaid) May 15, 2019
#YouKnowMe
Back alley.
Catheter and clothes hangar.
I was 19, it was 1966.
I didn’t die.
But I could have.— Charla Garth. #ImpeachTrump (@cmg1947) May 15, 2019
And the stories just keep coming. Philipps wrote about her abortion — at age 15 — in her memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little, last year. She wrote that her boyfriend’s mother at the time accused her of "murder[ing] a baby." However, her own mother “is who you want in your corner,” and she "just supported and loved me,” Philipps wrote.
Last week, as Georgia passed its own anti-abortion law, Philipps said on her E! show, which is ending, "I can not sit idly by while women’s rights are stripped away."
She said, "The statistic is one in four women will have an abortion before age 45. That statistic sometimes surprises people and maybe you’re sitting there thinking, 'I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion.' Well, you know me."
She continued: "I had an abortion when I was 15 years old and I’m telling you this because I’m genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country."
As the future of Roe vs. Wade is in question, other stars are speaking out as well — including Jamil, who called her decision the best one she ever made. Milla Jovovich also shared her story yesterday about a “horrific” emergency abortion experience.
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