The Bachelor Australia‘s Abbie Chatfield‘s emotional post about her abortion has prompted others to share their experiences after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe V Wade.
The landmark case granted women in America the right to terminate a pregnancy nearly 50 years ago and now, its overturn allows over half of states to ban abortion and tens of millions of Americans will face immediate and enduring impacts.
**Content warning: the following article discusses abortion and may be distressing to some readers.
After news of the Supreme Court’s decision broke, Abbie posted a photo of herself taken the day before she had an abortion in March 2018.
As a staunch advocate for women’s reproductive rights, the 27-year-old revealed the Roe V Wade overturn made her “sick”.
“I cried myself to sleep last night hearing of the news of Roe V Wade being overturned,” Abbie penned. “The joy from conservatives in preventing access to necessary healthcare is barbaric and terrifying. Overnight, abortion rights have been stripped in 12 states.
“As someone who has had an abortion, it made me sick.”
The incoming The Masked Singer Australia judge said she was thankful to have “access to safe abortion”.
“I was 23, and had a decent job, but I did not want a child, and that was reason enough,” Abbie explained. “It wasn’t an easy decision but it was the right decision.”
Read Abbie’s full post below:
In 2019, Abbie first revealed in an interview with the Shameless podcast that she had an abortion just months before filming The Bachelor.
Abbie Chatfield’s Abortion Story Prompts Several Reality Stars Share Their Experiences
A number of reality stars have since spoken out about their own abortion experiences, including Married at First Sight Australia‘s Domenica Calarco.
Under Abbie’s post, the TV bride said the “taboo nature” of abortion previously made her nervous to share her story.
“I’ve often felt very apprehensive of sharing my very own experience because of the taboo nature that surrounds abortion,” she penned. “I cried this morning when I saw the news. I have no words…”
Abbie’s fellow I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here alum Maria Thattil also took to social media to say she was “grateful” for her right to choose.
“I was 21 when I had my abortion,” she posted on both Instagram and Twitter. “There isn’t a single day that goes by where I am not grateful that I could safely access the procedure and healthcare for my circumstances.”
The Bachelorette‘s Brooke Blurton Reveals She Had an Abortion a “Little Time Ago”
The Bachelorette Australia 2021‘s Brooke Blurton shared Abbie’s post to her Instagram Story and praised her for her “vulnerability”.
Putting their post-Bachie feud to rest, the 27-year-old called on women to “come together” at this time.
“Yes the media has [played] into our once was ‘friendship’ but it takes a very strong human to speak up about this and disputes aside. I have always saw past that and admire the vulnerability Abbie has. [sic].” Brooke said.
“After going through my own experience of an abortion only very little time ago… I am so lucky (if that’s the word to use) to have a choice.”
The Bachelor’s Matt Agnew Speaks Out Against Anti-Vaxxers Comparing Abortion Ruling to Vaccine Mandates
The Bachelor 2019‘s very own Dr Matt Agnew also shared his take on the Roe V Wade situation on June 27.
Taking to Instagram, the 34-year-old slammed the “anti-vax crowd” for adopting the “my body, my choice” slogan used in the fight for women’s reproductive rights.
“‘My body, my choice’ being co-opted by the anti-vax crowd is utterly deplorable, disgustingly hurtful, and tremendously dangerous,” Matt wrote.
“For a moment let’s just forget about the fact that this is such an enormous false equivalency and highlight an important difference: a vaccine mandate did not force you to get a vaccine.”
The astrophysicist went on to remind people that they “did not go to jail if [they] did not get the vaccine”, unlike the women in America facing imprisonment should they seek out abortion is a state where it is outlawed.
“You still had a choice. Freedom of choice is not freedom of consequence though, and the fact remains that your choice carried consequences (that did not include facing charges or jail),” Matt continued.
Matt noted that vaccines and abortions are also “profoundly different” aside from the “simple premise of choice and lack thereof”.
“Abortions are not f*cking contagious. If someone gets an abortion it does not affect you in the slightest,” he wrote. “If it upsets you because it flies in the face of whatever belief system you dogmatically follow then that’s just too bad; your own personal convictions do not dictate other people’s lives.”
Read Matt’s full post below:
If you or anyone you know is struggling following a miscarriage or loss of a child and needs support, call SANDS on 1300 308 307 or Lifeline on 13 11 14, both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. You can also speak with someone confidentially at Headspace by calling 1800 650 890 or chat online here. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
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