A growing number of Hollywood studios said they will consider no longer conducting their filming business in Georgia should the Heartbeat Law take effect in…
A growing number of Hollywood studios said they will consider no longer conducting their filming business in Georgia should the Heartbeat Law take effect in 2020.
The film industry adds about $9.5 billion to Georgia’s economy, but a variety of Hollywood studios said the heartbeat law violates Roe v. Wade and that they are considering taking their filming elsewhere, NBC News reported.
Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a fetal heartbeat bill in May that is set to go into effect Jan. 1,2020, banning most abortions in Georgia after a heartbeat is detected. The bill makes exceptions in cases of rape and incest with a police report, and when the mother’s health is at risk.
Hollywood studios are threatening to withhold their business, noting they are each monitoring the situation and will pay attention to their actors’ and production teams’ wishes.
Netflix said the Georgia ban would make the company rethink its investment in Georgia.
“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there — while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to.
