Halsey opened up about undergoing a life-saving abortion and their experiences with pregnancy in an honest essay.
The “Without Me” hit-maker returned a request from Vogue for responses to the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and nearly 50 years of legal precedent. In it, she reflected on three past miscarriages that she suffered before giving birth to their son Ender in 2021.
“One of my miscarriages required ‘aftercare,’ a gentle way of saying that I would need an abortion, because my body could not terminate the pregnancy completely on its own and I would risk going into sepsis without medical intervention,” they wrote. “During this procedure, I cried. I was afraid for myself and I was helpless. I was desperate to end the pregnancy that was threatening my life.”
Halsey explained that she “was prepared for the worst” during her most recent pregnancy. So much so that they rewrote their will. “I gave detailed instructions regarding the donation of my organs should I die or be declared brain-dead, meaning if my heart beat on but my brain wasn’t functioning, the state would have permission to cut into my warm and still flush flesh and take my organs to save other lives.”
“How funny that while my own heart would amount to nothing more than a series of involuntary movements on an operating table, a beating heart in my womb could mean I couldn’t consent to saving my own life.” they added.
They described birthing their son as a “beautiful labor.” Despite that, Halsey said that she has not changed her mind about abortion.
“In fact, I have never felt more strongly about it,” they wrote. “My abortion saved my life and gave way for my son to have his. Every person deserves the right to choose when, if, and how they have this dangerous and life-altering experience. I will hold my son in one arm, and fight with all my might with the other.”
Halsey included a tribute to the importance of Roe v. Wade in her most recent tour even before the historic ruling was overturned. Billboard noted that she has been an outspoken advocate for the right to choose during her most recent concert dates.
They responded to critics and naysayers in a pointed post on Twitter.
“The ‘people pay to see you sing not hear your views’ argument is so dumb. No, you pay to see me use a stage as a form of expression in the manner that I choose,” she wrote. “Sorry you lack the critical thinking to realize that the rhetorical power of music doesn’t always serve your escapism.”
Check it out below:
Celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have also taken to social media to react to the Supreme Court’s decision. Others including Olivia Rodrigo and Megan Thee Stallion have spoken about the topic during live shows.