This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/31/netflix-and-disney-threaten-to-boycott-georgia-over-abortion-rights
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland abortion campaigners urge Disney and Netflix boycott | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Netflix and Disney are threatening to pull film production in Georgia over the US state’s new abortion law – but neither company will comment on whether they will continue to make shows in Northern Ireland, where women face even more restrictions on their reproductive rights. | Netflix and Disney are threatening to pull film production in Georgia over the US state’s new abortion law – but neither company will comment on whether they will continue to make shows in Northern Ireland, where women face even more restrictions on their reproductive rights. |
| Georgia’s proposed law, which has prompted a growing boycott from the entertainment industry and leading actors, will ban women from seeking an abortion after six weeks. By comparison, Northern Ireland’s longstanding ban on abortion is absolute from the moment of conception, with anyone obtaining an abortion theoretically facing life imprisonment. | Georgia’s proposed law, which has prompted a growing boycott from the entertainment industry and leading actors, will ban women from seeking an abortion after six weeks. By comparison, Northern Ireland’s longstanding ban on abortion is absolute from the moment of conception, with anyone obtaining an abortion theoretically facing life imprisonment. |
| “It shouldn’t be one rule for Georgia and one rule for Northern Ireland,” said Emma Campbell, co-chair of the Northern Irish campaign group Alliance for Choice. | “It shouldn’t be one rule for Georgia and one rule for Northern Ireland,” said Emma Campbell, co-chair of the Northern Irish campaign group Alliance for Choice. |
| “There needs to be some consistency,” she added, suggesting that there is often a “blind spot” when it comes to the reality of life for women in Northern Ireland, who have to travel abroad for a termination. | “There needs to be some consistency,” she added, suggesting that there is often a “blind spot” when it comes to the reality of life for women in Northern Ireland, who have to travel abroad for a termination. |
| “Companies like Disney making a public statement could put political pressure on in a way that an activist group like ourselves just can’t.” | “Companies like Disney making a public statement could put political pressure on in a way that an activist group like ourselves just can’t.” |
| Film and television producers were attracted to Georgia by the state’s tax breaks, but have now found themselves in the middle of a debate over abortion legislation. Most have chosen to stay quiet but Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, has been one of the few media executives willing to publicly speak out on the topic. | Film and television producers were attracted to Georgia by the state’s tax breaks, but have now found themselves in the middle of a debate over abortion legislation. Most have chosen to stay quiet but Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, has been one of the few media executives willing to publicly speak out on the topic. |
| 'Women will die': how new abortion bans will harm the most vulnerable | 'Women will die': how new abortion bans will harm the most vulnerable |
| This week he would consider pulling his company out of the state – where it makes shows such as Stranger Things – if the proposed abortion law comes into effect, while also saying Netflix would join in legal efforts to fight the new legislation. | This week he would consider pulling his company out of the state – where it makes shows such as Stranger Things – if the proposed abortion law comes into effect, while also saying Netflix would join in legal efforts to fight the new legislation. |
| “Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to,” he said in a statement. “Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.” | “Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to,” he said in a statement. “Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.” |
| However, Netflix declined to comment on whether it would take a similar approach to Northern Ireland, where it has filmed the gameshow Flinch and is co-producing the drama Marcella with ITV. | However, Netflix declined to comment on whether it would take a similar approach to Northern Ireland, where it has filmed the gameshow Flinch and is co-producing the drama Marcella with ITV. |
| This week Disney chief executive Bob Iger also said it would be “difficult” for his company to continue filming in Georgia if the law came into effect because “many people who work for us will not want to work there”. | This week Disney chief executive Bob Iger also said it would be “difficult” for his company to continue filming in Georgia if the law came into effect because “many people who work for us will not want to work there”. |
| Disney did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would adopt a similar stance towards Northern Ireland, where it has recently filmed scenes for the forthcoming Artemis Fowl film. | Disney did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would adopt a similar stance towards Northern Ireland, where it has recently filmed scenes for the forthcoming Artemis Fowl film. |
| Northern Ireland’s film and television industry has boomed in recent years, aided by the success of the HBO series Game of Thrones, much of which was filmed in the country. | Northern Ireland’s film and television industry has boomed in recent years, aided by the success of the HBO series Game of Thrones, much of which was filmed in the country. |
| Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the series, told Sky News she had signed a public pledge to no longer work in US states with strict abortion laws. When it was pointed out she had filmed eight series of Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland, she said “luckily we’re moving on”. | Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the series, told Sky News she had signed a public pledge to no longer work in US states with strict abortion laws. When it was pointed out she had filmed eight series of Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland, she said “luckily we’re moving on”. |
| Abortion | Abortion |
| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |
| Walt Disney Company | Walt Disney Company |
| Netflix | Netflix |
| Television | Television |
| Women | Women |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |