Maya Hawke has discussed her mother Uma Thurman‘s decision to get an abortion during her late teens, stating that if she had chosen not to, she “would not exist.”
Stranger Things star Maya, 23, spoke about the topic in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade, the precedent which made legal access to abortion a constitutional right.
Appearing on Tuesday’s episode of The Tonight Show, the actress joined a long list of celebrities, including Olivia Rodrigo, Lily Allen, Billie Eilish and Meghan Markle, to oppose the ruling, which now sees individual states being handed back the power to decide whether or not to permit abortion.
“Both of my parents’ lives would’ve been totally derailed if she hadn’t had access to safe and legal healthcare – fundamental healthcare,” Maya explained.
Maya also addressed the “beautiful essay” written by Kill Bill star Uma, now 52, in September last year for The Washington Post, in which she condemned the ban of abortions past the six-week ban in Texas.
In the essay, the Hollywood actress explained she was “accidentally impregnated by a much older man” in her late teen.
She penned that deciding to undergo an abortion was her “darkest secret” and the “hardest decision of her life”. But had she not had gone ahead with the procedure, she wouldn’t have the opportunity to “grow up and become the mother she is today.”
Uma also pointed out the wider issues at the forefront of US government decision-making, calling the Supreme Court “a staging ground for a human rights crisis for American women” and going on to express her sadness at the polarising effect this has had. “I am grief-stricken, as well, that the law pits citizen against citizen, creating new vigilantes who will prey on these disadvantaged women”.
And in her talk show appearance, Maya echoed that those women in less privileged positions would be significantly affected by the Roe v. Wade ruling compared to wealthy people who “will always be able to get an abortion”.
Maya continued: “So many people, because of this ruling this week, will not only not be able to pursue their dreams, but actually lose their lives and be unsafe.”
In a whisper, Maya then concluded her impassioned speech with: “And I just wanted to say that, like, f*** the Supreme Court.”
Turning to ask host Jimmy Fallon if she was allowed to swear live on air and given the go-ahead, Maya proclaimed loud and clear: “Oh, f*** the Supreme Court! Yeah, rock on!”
This change in US legislation means at least 26 states are “certain or likely” to ban abortion, according to an analysis from the Guttmacher Institute, and will lead to the closure of over 200 clinics.
The practical consequence of this is that many women experiencing unwanted pregnancies in these states will have to travel to states where abortion remains legal to have the medical procedure in a safe, legal way.
In such a difficult time for women and their reproductive rights, we would like to close with Uma’s parting words from her essay. “To all of you who are made vulnerable and subjected to shame because you have a uterus — I say: I see you,” she wrote. “Have courage. You are beautiful,” she wrote.