Alyssa Milano revealed dozens of more celebrities including Avengers: Endgame actors Mark Ruffalo and Tessa Thompson have signed onto a letter calling for Hollywood to boycott the state of Georgia if a pro-life bill is signed into law by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
The Georgia bill, HB 481 Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, would ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected which is usually after six months of pregnancy.
Milano has been constantly updating her Twitter feed with new celebrities who signed on which include Ashley Judd, Seth Green, Pedro Pascal, Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz, Kerry Washington and more.
Thank you to @sethgreen, @DavidArquette @AshleyJudd @michaelaWat @kellyoxford @pamelarackguest and @jamesocromwell who have signed on to join us in opposing #HB841 in #GA. Our letter to @BrianKempGA and David Ralston with updated signers below. #HB481IsBadForBusiness pic.twitter.com/99ZpPMikbt
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 29, 2019
Thanks to @DangerMarin, @rosieperezbklyn, @oliviawilde, @msjoelyfisher, @billprady, @billybaldwin, and @robertsemma for raising your voices for women’s health in #Georgia!
Tell @BrianKemp that #HB481IsBadForBusiness. Letter with more than 70 signers below. pic.twitter.com/9varanP7AJ
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 29, 2019
On March 30th, Milano indicated that over 80 actors had signed onto the letter.
More than 80 actors and creators have signed on to tell @BrianKempGA that #HB481IsBadForBusiness in #Georga. Thank you @billprady, @billybaldwin, @robertsemma, @rileykeough, @evanrachelwood, @MsSarahPaulson, @emmyrossum, @jes_chastain, @arielwinter1, @stevekazee, & @juddapatow pic.twitter.com/rB31ck6IZf
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 30, 2019
However, more would continue signing the letter.
Thank you @MarkRuffalo, @lenadunham, @KristaVernoff and @PedroPascal1 for telling @BrianKempGA that #HB841IsBadForBusiness.
We stand together for women’s health, safety, and bodily autonomy. pic.twitter.com/qJk1EGg8jf
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 31, 2019
MORE! Thank you @JasonWGeorge, @SigmanStephanie, @OfficialMolina, @LauraDern, @ZoeKravitz, @EvaLongoria, @LenaWaithe, @TessaThompson_x, @RJonesNews, @LauraBellBundy, @TraceeEllisRoss, @kerrywashington for standing up for women and telling @BrianKempGA that #HB481IsBadForBusiness pic.twitter.com/tTWlkBeVlB
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 31, 2019
While Milano, thanked many of the actors for supporting her letter and calling for a boycott of Georgia, others made their opinions about the bill known as well.
I stand with @staceyabrams @naral and so many of my friends in opposition to #HB481, a bill being considered right now in Georgia that would essentially ban abortion in the state.
Georgia residents, please speak out, let your local representatives know, #HB481isBadForBusiness.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 29, 2019
Boycott Film and Tv in Georgia https://t.co/dDemaKU3DF
— June Diane Raphael (@MsJuneDiane) March 29, 2019
I’m in opposition to #HB481.
If you’re #Georgia resident pls call Call Gov. Kemp 404-656-1776
Metro ATL Chamber (404)880-9000
Urge them to stop this terrifying bill.
🚨☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️🚨If you suppprt Women rights
pls RT & share #HB481IsBadForBusiness https://t.co/bhTUUdu72e— Piper Perabo (@PiperPerabo) March 31, 2019
Hey Hollywood studios and producers, what are a woman’s right to make the most intimate decisions about her body worth to you? Take a stand. https://t.co/trcwEpXffz
— Bradley Whitford (@WhitfordBradley) March 29, 2019
Judd Apatow made it clear he “won’t be shooting movies and TV in Georgia anymore if [the bill] moves forward.”
I guess we won’t be shooting movies and TV in Georgia anymore if this moves forward. https://t.co/kzHGVWXaiL
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) March 30, 2019
These celebrities join over 50 others who had previously signed the letter which included Warmachine actor Don Cheadle, Marvel TV’s Patton Oswalt, Sean Penn, Ben Stiller, Star Wars and DC Animated voice actress Tara Strong, Sarah Silverman, Minnie Driver, Amy Shumer, and Star Wars actor Greg Grunberg among others.
The letter addressed to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reads in part, “We can’t imagine being elected officials who had to say to their constituents ‘I enacted a law that was so evil, it chased billions of dollars out of our state’s economy.” It concludes, “we will do everything in our power to move our industry to a safer state for women if H.B. 481 becomes law.”
Bill Prady who is the executive producer of The Big Bang Theory also indicated he has co-signed the letter and urged Milano to open up the letter to other show creators to be able to sign as well.
Co-sign (open this up to show creators, @Alyssa_Milano?). https://t.co/5H1hb1B44Q
— Bill Prady (@billprady) March 29, 2019
The Writers Guild of America East and the Writers Guild of America West have also taken a stand against the bill.
WGAE and @WGAWest oppose Georgia’s abortion ban legislation #HB481. This draconian anti-choice law would discourage people in our industry from working in Georgia and could harm the state’s vibrant film and television industry. Full statement attached. pic.twitter.com/bAfJkhXSTv
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) March 26, 2019
The Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2017 indicated that Gerogia was the “No. 1 filming location in the world.” The article states that “film and television productions generated $9.5 billion in economic impact in fiscal 2017. This includes $2.7 billion in direct spending.”
The state is home to several Marvel movies, Netflix’s Stranger Things, AMC’s The Walking Dead, Ozark, and more. The state is home to Pinewood Atlanta Studios, EUE/Screen Gems Studios, Atlanta Metro Studios, Tyler Perry Studios, and Blackhall Studios.
In Fiscal Year 2018 there were 455 productions that did “$2.7 billion in direct spending.” according to Atlanta-based AJC.
Georgia attracts this major productions with up to a 30 percent tax credit they spend at $500,000 in the state.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called on the Georgia film industry to move to Michigan.
Hey Georgia film industry: Come on up to Michigan!@JocelynBenson, @DanaNessel and I are committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) March 31, 2019
She would be backed up by the Micigan Democrats.
Hey Judd, Michigan has everything you need, including leaders who stand up for women’s rights! cc: @GovWhitmer @dananessel @JocelynBenson @LavoraBarnes https://t.co/O95KLTxzkk
— Michigan Democrats (@MichiganDems) March 30, 2019
What do you make of these celebrities calling for Hollywood to boycott Georgia? Do you think it will have an impact? Do you think Hollywood will vacate the state if the bill is signed into law by the Governor?