Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards on Wednesday praised an episode of ABC’s “Scandal,” in which the main character terminates a pregnancy, for its effort to “really humanize” abortion.
“It really has to do with bodily autonomy when it comes down to it,” Ms. Richards told Interview Magazine. “I do think that was such a powerful episode.”
“Every family, everybody, deals with these issues one way or another,” she continued. “I think to really humanize it and say, ’This is the most personal decision that many people will make in their lifetime,’ and the thought that anyone other than that person would make the decision, and that you would put that in the hands of government, is just unthinkable.”
The episode, which aired last fall, depicted main character Olivia Pope having an abortion with the Christmas hymn “Silent Night,” which tells the story of the birth of Jesus, playing in the background.
Religious and pro-life groups criticized the episode, which also features a Republican senator successfully filibustering a bill to divest public funds from Planned Parenthood, as pro-choice propaganda.
But pro-choice activists called it bold.
“I think Kerry Washington is brave,” Ms. Richards said, referring to the actress.
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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