During her set at the Austin City Limits music festival this past weekend, headliner Billie Eilish used her time on stage to speak out against the Texas abortion ban — and reveal that she considered backing out of the festival to protest it.
As seen in fan footage from the festival, the words “Bans Off Our Bodies” were shown on the jumbotrons and stage screens while Billie spoke to the crowd.
“When they made that sh*t a law, I almost didn’t want to do the show,” Billie said, referencing Texas Senate Bill 8, which took effect on September 1.
Texas’ SB 8 law is a near-total ban on abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for cases involving rape or incest, and allows private citizens to file civil lawsuits against anyone who performs an abortion or assists a pregnant person with accessing abortion within the state. This piece of anti-abortion legislation is the first of its kind to be allowed into effect, and is currently one of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
“Because I wanted to punish this f*cking place for allowing that to happen here,” Billie continued. “But then I remembered that it’s you guys that are the f*cking victims and you deserve everything in the world. And we need to tell them to shut the f*ck up!”
Billie then put her middle finger in the air and instructed the crowd to do the same, shouting: “My body, my f*cking choice!”
Billie Eilish has been vocal about her stance against Texas’ abortion ban before, expressing her thoughts on the law via social media when SB 8 initially went into effect. “I really wish men cared more,” she said via her Instagram Stories. “I’m so f*cking tired. Makes me sick how many men say nothing when it comes to women’s rights.”
According to news site Austin360, Billie’s brother and frequent collaborator Finneas also expressed his opinions on the new abortion law during his Friday set at ACL. In between songs, the phrase “Bans Off Our Bodies” flashed on the stage screens, and Finneas reportedly announced that he will be donating his entire Austin City Limits festival paycheck to Planned Parenthood Texas.
“I’m happy to be here in Texas, because I’m happy to be here with all of you,” said Finneas before cursing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Prior to her appearance at ACL, singer Phoebe Bridgers also showed her support for reproductive rights in Texas by releasing a Bandcamp exclusive cover of Bo Burnham’s “That Funny Feeling.” “This one’s for Greg Abbott,” Bridgers wrote in an Instagram post, stating that all of the proceeds from the song would go to different Texas abortion funds.
Bridger’s fundraiser and Billie and Finneas’ bold statements come only a few days after the Women’s March and rally for reproductive freedom took place in cities across the nation. Thousands took to the streets to protest anti-abortion legislature and to show their support for abortion access for all. Per NPR, the Supreme Court reconvenes for its next session today, October 4, during which the current standing of landmark decision Roe v. Wade could be challenged.
Head here to check out some of the most powerful images and signs from the marches around the country.