Free contraceptives will no longer be distributed on Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts tour. The decision comes after news that Rodrigo had partnered with the Missouri Abortion Fund to give out free condoms, morning-after pills and information on abortion resources at her concert in St. Louis, where abortion is illegal.
Jade Hurley, the communications manager for the DC Abortion Fund, told Variety that Rodrigo’s team made the decision because children are present at her concerts. Organizers from local abortion funds told the outlet that the decision was announced over Slack by the National Network of Abortion Funds.
“The reality is that youth have sex, and youth need access to birth control and emergency contraception,” Hurley said in an interview with Variety over the phone. “What we’re doing is completely legal in all 50 states.”
Several abortion fund organizers told Variety are disappointed with the decision.
The contraceptives distributed at the St. Louis concert received backlash from some conservatives but also received praise from reproductive rights advocates. Stephanie Kraft Sheley, project director of Right by You, clarified to The Guardian that Rodrigo invited advocacy groups but did not directly decide to hand out contraceptives.
“She invited us, but it was our decision to bring it and hand it out. It fills my heart with so much joy and gratitude to Olivia, and it shows how well received it will be when other artists step up and do this. I hope they follow this example,” Sheley said.
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