The artist best known for her hit song “Bad Guy” just did something very good. Billie Eilish will donate part of her upcoming festival fee to Planned Parenthood. On Instagram on Friday, September 13, Eilish announced her plans to donate a portion of her paycheck from her upcoming performances at the Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta, Georgia to the organization. Eilish wrote on her Instagram Story, “ATLANTA. One of my favorite places in the world, to be in, and play shows!! But I do not love the state’s lawmaker’s decision to take away women’s rights.”
And the queen continued to serve some serious facts. “I still cannot believe we are even having this conversation in 2019. I’m donating a portion of my guarantee tomorrow to @plannedparenthood. We need this organization more than ever. Swipe up to learn more and sign the petition, and if you have any spare change, donate. You can seriously help someone. See you tomorrow atl.”
Preach Queen!
Eilish’s donation comes right after the state’s latest legislative action: In May, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a restrictive abortion bill that would ban abortions about six weeks into pregnancy (at which time many women may still be unaware that they’re pregnant). Eilish’s donation is also part of a larger campaign with Planned Parenthood. In August, the organization teamed with the music industry to launch Bans Off My Body, a petition to combat the stigma around sexual health care. The campaign is backed by almost 140 artists from the music industry, including John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Meghan Thee Stallion, and others.
Eilish joins other artists to donate festival earnings to Planned Parenthood. In May, Travis Scott told the crowd at the Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama that he would donate the proceeds from his merchandise sales at the show to Planned Parenthood. Scott told the crowd repeatedly, “We feel for those out in Alabama. I love y’all and I just want everyone to know that love is the strongest thing we can have.” It was at this time that Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed what has been described as “the most aggessively anti-aborition law in recent American history.”
In June 2019, Ariana Grande donated $250,000 to the organization. The proceeds cam from her concert in Atlanta in an effort to protest the state’s restrictive abortion laws.
It’s really amazing to see the music indsutry’s leading artists making their voices heard. And people are praising it! Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast, made a statement. “My favorite thing in the world is when people use their superpowers for good just like Bille did today. On behalf of Atlanta, and everyone in the Southeast, we say thank you. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to fight back against these bans and we don’t take our responsibility lightly. I can promise you that we will continue to do everything in our power to protect reproductive health and rights so that the next generation of bold, brave, beautiful leaders like Billie can continue dreaming up a better future.”