Zara Larsson is helping diminish abortion stigma

We may have changed the course of healthcare for women in Ireland when we repealed the 8th amendment in 2018, but the stigma still lingers over this country, and will take a lot of time to shed.

One thing that often helps is to normalise abortion and to make it a normal topic to discuss. There shouldn't be stigma and shame surrounding it, and that's why Zara Larsson is doubling down on her comments about abortion after facing backlash.

A fan of the singer shared a TikTok from the singer's concert, which was captioned: "I didn’t know I was pregnant here, but at least my baby got to hear midnight sun before I aborted it.”

Zara replied to the fan with a comment that has divided the public, "I killed the performance, and then you killed it after the performance purrrrrr.”

The Lush Life singer stressed that she is pro-choice and said she made the joke because abortion "doesn’t have to be taboo.”

"I actually wanna have a little one-on-one with the people who […] were like, this is not something to joke about. I am so pro-choice. I am as pro-choice as the next person, but abortion is a very serious topic, and I just want to know why that is.”

@zaralarsson And THATS on #healthcare ♬ original sound - Zara Larsson

She continued, “Why do you feel like abortion is only okay when it’s a very hard decision, when it’s something that women have to struggle with going through, when it’s emotionally or physically painful?”

Zara's followers were quick to support her and stressed that she is helping defeat the stigma.

"When I got my (medicinal) abortion, the girl next to me and I took our pill at the same time, and she said “wellllllllp no going back now,” and we laughed. It’s complicated for each person, but it doesn’t have to be so serious. Abortion is healthcare in all ways!," one wrote.

Another said, "Why is dark humor coming out of a man’s mouth totally ok but when a woman jokes like that, suddenly we should all be more sensitive?"

Another added, "As an abortion care worker, thank you. Joking around is sometimes how we get through it. Abortion does NOT have to be a sad decision. It can be what it is, just a decision. Abortion is birth control, and you get to feel however you want about it. Even if that means not feeling any type of way at all. No one has to defend their abortion. Even if they’re joking around about it."

One added, "I’ve had one and no regrets, no shame, no guilt. The only emotion I felt then, and since, is relief."

One person asked, "Why is it only morally okay when women have to suffer?" and we couldn't agree with them more. Abortion is healthcare. Abortion should not be stigmatised.

If you have been affected by topics in this article, you can call the My Options freephone helpline 24/7 on 1800 828 010.