‘F**k the Supreme Court’: All the Glastonbury artists who spoke up about abortion rights

Artists across the weekend used their platform to send a clear message


Ordinarily Worthy Farm in Somerset might seem a million miles away from the corridors of power in Washington DC but artists across this weekend’s Glastonbury festival made sure the action of the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe V Wade would not go unchallenged.

From Friday night’s headliner Billie Eilish describing it as a “dark day for women in America”, to Kendrick Lamar closing the festival on Sunday night to a chant of “Godspeed for women’s rights”, the sense of anger and injustice at the decision to overturn the ruling which established women’s constitutional right to an abortion in the US was palpable.

Here are all the artists who spoke up for abortion rights at Glastonbury:

Billie Eilish

Joined alongside her brother on stage to play Your Power, Billie described the song as being “about the concept of power and how we always need to remember not to abuse it.”

She then said: “Today is really really dark day for women in the US. And I’m just going to say that because I can’t bear to think about it anymore in this moment.”

Phoebe Bridgers

Also performing on Friday night just hours after the ruling was made, Phoebe asked the crowd: “Who wants to say f**k the Supreme Court on three?”

Addressing her audience, she said: “F**k that s**t. Fuck America. All these irrelevant old motherf**kers trying to tell us what to do with our f**king bodies.”

Idles

Lead singer Joe Talbot pointed to the crowd and described the Supreme Court’s decision as taking the US “back to the Middle Ages”.

Before performing their song Mother, Joe dedicated the song to “every mother and every woman and her right to choose whether she is a mother or not.”

“Long live the open minded, long live my mother and long live every single one of you,” he said.

Olivia Rodrigo with Lily Allen

A standout moment from the entire festival, the 19-year-old Californian brought out Glastonbury favourite, Lily Allen for an impromptu performance of Fuck You.

In a powerful speech, Olivia said: “I’m devastated and terrified, so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this.

“I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who have shown us that at the end of the day, they truly don’t give a shit about freedom.”

This song goes out to the justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, we hate you.”

Lily joined in and said: “We hate you.”

Megan Thee Stallion

Houston based rapper, Megan Thee Stallion admitted she was embarrassed by Texas where in 2021 abortion after six weeks became illegal.

She interrupted her set to say: “You know it wouldn’t really be me if I didn’t say something about these stupid ass men. Texas really embarrassing me right now, y’all.”

“I want to have it on the motherf**king record that the hot boys and the hot girls do not support this bulls**t that y’all campaign for.

“My body is my motherf**king choice.”

As the crowd cheered, she told them: “I need everybody in the audience right now to say ‘My body, my motherf**king choice'” which prompted the tens of thousands of fans to chant it back at her.

Amyl and the Sniffers

Despite performing on Sunday afternoon, that didn’t stop punk Aussie band Amyl and the Sniffers from energizing the crowd against the decision.

Lead singer, Amy Taylor asked: “Where are the ladies? Where are my non-binary friends?” before saying “F**k the Supreme Court of America.”

Not holding back, bassist Kevin Romber, told the crowd: “F**k the Supreme Court of America. F**k those c**ts. That s**t is twisted.”

Lorde

Going off-script at the end of her song Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All), Lorde said: “Wanna hear a secret girls? Your bodies were destined to be controlled and objectified since before you were born. That horror is your birth right.”

“Here’s another secret – you possess an ancient strength, ancient wisdom. Wisdom that has propelled every woman who came before you. That wisdom is also your birth right. I ask you today, make accessing that wisdom your life’s work, because everything depends on that.”

She ended by saying: “F**k the Supreme Court.”

Kendrick Lamar

Wearing a crown of thorns, Kendrick finished his set performing new song Saviour. As fake blood began to pour down across his face and shirt, he chanted: “They judge, they judge Christ. Godspeed for women’s rights.”

As the crowd cheered, Kendrick began to chant with more urgency. After reaching a fever-pitch, the rapper suddenly stopped, dropped the mic and walked off stage, leaving the crowd to take in the powerful moment.

Featured Image via SWNS

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