Olivia Rodrigo has been passionate about advocating for women's reproductive health and voiced her frustrations when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
Rodrigo's advocacy has since translated into allowing the distribution of contraceptive pills on her GUTS World Tour concert stop.
Olivia Rodrigo Tour Barred From Handing Out Birth Control Pills
Olivia Rodrigo tour organizers confirmed to Variety that local organizations were barred from handing out free emergency birth control pills and other reproductive health resources at her concerts.
Sources revealed that Rodrigo's team pulled the plug on the initiative. The National Network for Abortion Funds (NNAF) partnered with Rodrigo in setting up booths on the North American leg of her GUTS tour.
DC Abortion Fund Communications Manager Jade Hurley revealed to the publication that NNAF and Rodrigo's team were the ones who stopped the initiative because "children are present at the concerts."
Many have expressed both concern and appreciation on social media after photos of fans receiving condoms, lubricants, and Plan B pills were handed out at concerts. But some have raised their eyebrows after learning that children under 16 were present at Rodrigo's concert and have access to such resources.
"The reality is that youth have sex, and youth need access to birth control and emergency contraception," Hurley told Variety. "What we're doing is completely legal in all 50 states."
As of this writing, neither Rodrigo nor her team has issued a statement regarding the initiative's sudden stoppage.
Popstar Olivia Rodrigo handed out free condoms and Plan B pills to fans at her concert in St Louis, Missouri, on March 12th.
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) March 15, 2024
Right by the women’s bathrooms, there was a table where concertgoers could donate to abortion funds and pick up free condoms and Plan B pills being… pic.twitter.com/xBmdPCMBtp
READ ALSO: Olivia Rodrigo Hands Out Contraceptives at 'GUTS' Tour Shows Because of THIS
Abortion Organizations Pushes Back on Olivia Rodrigo's Decision
Meanwhile, some of the abortion organizations have since expressed their frustrations on the matter.
"There is something really positive about a 16- or 15-year-old having a Plan B and a few condoms in her dresser to use as she needs it," Prairie Abortion Fund Chair Destini Spaeth said in a statement to the publication. "Sex and sexual health tools - whether that be abortion, Plan B, condoms - are villainized because you're [seen as being] promiscuous."
Rodrigo and the NNAF's initiative has received mixed responses. Many saw it as well-intentioned, but conservatives have since slammed her for allowing such a move.
READ ALSO: Olivia Rodrigo Jokes About Drinking Underaged in Birthday Post: 'Hypothetically!'
