Entertainment
Ashley James ‘devastated’ by US abortion rights being overturned: ‘It doesn’t feel far away’-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
The star shared her fears as the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.
DJ and presenter Ashley James worries the overturning of abortion rights in the US is ‘not that far away’ from the UK (Picture:Getty)
DJ Ashley James has spoken out about her fears for the UK since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe V Wade.
Last month, the United States Supreme Court voted to overturn the groundbreaking ruling which in 1973 promised a woman’s right to an abortion across all 50 states.
The move now allows individual states to determine their own laws on abortion, and was made possible by three conservative judges appointed by former president Donald Trump.
Shockwaves were felt across the US and beyond as the decades-old law was overturned, and some fear women’s rights are going backwards – and that it couldhappen here.
Metro.co.uk spoke to Ashley James, a DJ, presenter and proud feminist, who admits she is hugely concerned by the goings-on in America, describing it as ‘the most devastating news.’
‘I was so upset to read it and especially because it doesn’t feel far away,’ she said.
The star recalled how, in 2019, 99 UK MPs voted against decriminalising abortion in Northern Ireland (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
‘Obviously my heart breaks for all of the people in America that this is going to have consequences for, but in 2019 there was a vote about decriminalising abortion in Northern Ireland and 99 of our own MPs voted against it.’
She also cited Tory MP Danny Kruger, who after Roe v Wade was overturned in the US, appeared to suggest in Parliament that he doesn’t believe women should have the ‘absolute right to bodily autonomy’.
‘I think it’s very frightening, and it’s also frightening how close it is to home,’ she admitted.
‘Hopefully we can learn lessons from what’s happened in America and use our votes and protect UK citizens from anything like that happening over here.’
She added: ‘It also kind of breaks my heart, the systematic misogyny,’ pointing out that of the six men on the Supreme Court, two – Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas – have faced allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
Ashley said this was ‘much like in our own government,’ where 56 MPs are facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
Ashley said she hopes we can ‘learn’ from what happened in the US (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s just a constant reminder that the patriarchy oppresses us and believes that it has a right to push the shame and the blame on women,’ she said.
‘I feel like it’s to do with ignorance around trying to control reproductive rights, because we know from history that it doesn’t stop abortions, but it does stop safe ones.’
The mum-of-one spoke about how women are expected to provide ‘extreme examples’ of why safe abortions are needed, but insisted it should be ‘enough to say you’re not ready for a baby for a multitude of reasons.’
However, she admitted it was ‘important to highlight all the more extreme cases’ because it appeared to be the ‘only way we can… make people change their mind.’
‘It does break my heart that in all of these conversations about controlling people with uteruses’ reproductive rights, the underlying message is, essentially, that women shouldn’t have sex if they don’t want a baby.
Ashley herself is mum to one-year-old baby Alfie (Picture: Instagram/ Ashley James)
‘And [if women do have sex] we should face the consequences. If we should be impregnated by another person under any circumstances including rape, incest, so many horrific things, that we should become caregivers no matter the consequences on our body, our mind, our family, our ability to work, to feed our other kids.
‘It’s just mindblowing that they claim to care about life but not the life of the person they’re forcing to go through that.’
The star went on to share her disbelief that, in the United States, even if a person is forced to go through with the pregnancy, there is very little support once the baby is born, citing the formula shortage and lack of universal healthcare among other things.
‘I feel like it’s a lie to say it’s about life,’ she stated.
‘I think everyone is entitled to personal beliefs whatever they are, but those beliefs should never rob someone else of making their own decisions.’
The DJ and presenter is an outspoken fighter for women’s rights (Picture: Getty Images)
Ashley pointed out that, in the conversation about abortion, there is ‘zero shame on men who impregnate women, zero criminalisation of men who impregnate women.’
Stating that it is ‘unbelievable’ what happened, Ashley admitted she ‘always believed there would always be progression and it makes me worried when you hear stories that they’re discussing contraception or the right to gay marriage next.’
Even in the UK, she added, the cost of raising a child is astronomical, with mainly women being forced to leave the workforce due to the cost of childcare or work hours unable to fit around school hours.
More: Trending
‘And sadly, and especially after lockdown, it’s mainly women who are having to be the free childcare,’ she suggested, claiming that ‘even when men are trying… they’re often rebuffed’ if they tell work they need to leave for childcare reasons.
‘It’s always the idea that it should be us,’ she said, ‘but what if the Missus is a barrister or a teacher or even, in my case, a DJ?’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
