Planned Parenthood is NOT having any of Kanye West’s nonsense!
And to be clear, there was a LOT of nonsense within what Forbes characterizes as “four rambling hours of interviews,” excerpts of which were released on Wednesday. It’s impossible to choose just one quote as the worst of the lot, but Planned Parenthood is refuting the particularly offensive and harmful accusation the rapper leveled against the organization.
Related: Donald Trump’s Niece Makes EXPLOSIVE Claims In New Tell-All
During the course of the interview, the Yeezy founder labelled himself as “pro-life” because of the “word of the bible.” Yeah, that good old fashioned biblical misogyny — next he’ll be making Kim Kardashian West leave the house during her period. Ugh.
He also had this to say about the reproductive health clinic specifically:
“Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil’s work.”
There’s a complicated history behind this claim, but anti-abortion proponents have long used it to undermine the good work Planned Parenthood does because its founder, Margaret Sanger, allegedly espoused eugenicist views. But much like the Republican Party no longer being “the party of Lincoln”, the modern incarnation of Planned Parenthood does NOT support those values and has long since publicly denounced them.
Whether Kanye realizes it or not, the right wingers who spun out this conspiracy theory don’t even really believe it — they just want to whip up their base and keep the one-issue voters on their side while they turn away the needy, steal from the sick, and crush any chances of the meek ever inheriting jack s**t.
Not to mention, we do actually know for a fact who the white supremacists support…
Nia Martin-Robinson, Director of Black Leadership and Engagement at PP, gave a statement to TMZ in a harsh rebuttal of West’s words. She said:
“Black women are free to make our own decisions about our bodies and pregnancies, and want and deserve to have access to the best medical care available. … Any insinuation that abortion is Black genocide is offensive and infantilizing. The real threat to Black communities’ safety, health, and lives stems from lack of access to quality, affordable health care, police violence and the criminalization of reproductive health care by anti-abortion opposition.”
Ye’s attacks on women’s reproductive rights are particularly infuriating as they come on the same day that the Supreme Court handed down a decision allowing employers to deny birth control as part of their health care plans due to “religious or moral objections.” Oof.
Related: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Are FINALLY Co-Parenting Well Thanks To Family Therapy!
His views also seem to be at odds with his own wife, who has spoken up for reproductive rights and called Planned Parenthood “an amazing place” on Instagram back in 2017:
“My sisters and I visited Planned Parenthood recently and learned that the House of Representatives forced through a bill that strips health care coverage from millions of people and raises health care costs, including Planned Parenthood patients. ?They are such an amazing place that provides so much to so many! #istandwithpp”
It’s probably a lost cause to hope Nia’s words (or Kim’s, assuming she’s willing to fight with her husband for what she believes) will get through to Kanye.
But hopefully they can reach others who may be on the fence about the organization’s vital importance to our society. In a country where women’s reproductive rights are already under fire, the last thing we need is a narcissistic, egotistical billionaire taking aim at valuable institutions like Planned Parenthood.
[Image via WENN & Planned Parenthood]
-
Categories
