Chai Brady
Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life Pro-life groups in the North of Ireland have called for a boycott of media giants Netflix and Disney after their decision to economically threaten a US state’s decision to restrict abortion law.
New legislation in Georgia, set to be implemented in January 2020, will see abortions outlawed once a foetal heartbeat is detected – which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
This comes as groups campaigning for abortion to be legalised in Northern Ireland have asked for “consistency”, saying Netflix and Disney should put similar pressure on Stormont.
The Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said: “We would be asking people to boycott Disney and Netflix because of that threat.
“They’re playing political football with the lives of innocent unborn children. I think the reality is Stormont wouldn’t take something like this very seriously…”
She dubbed their decision to withdraw business from Georgia “scare tactics” and that “intimidation is entirely unacceptable and will not go down well with many pro-life customers who support Georgia’s law to protect the unborn after a heartbeat is detected”.
Celebrated
Mrs Smyth asked pro-life customers to take a strong stand against the decision, and that the passing of the “life-saving” law is being “rightly celebrated”.
“This works both ways. Whilst Disney and Netflix are claiming they will pull their business from Georgia, it is just as likely that customers too will rethink their investment in such companies and will stop subscribing, watching their productions and giving them their hard-earned money.”
She added that many people have contacted Precious Life saying they will boycott the companies.
Well known Irish businessman Declan Ganley posted a picture of him cancelling his Netflix account. He wrote: “Just cancelled @NetflixUK @netflix. As a family, we were very regular users but when corporations become hyper politicised and pick sides as they have in the abortion debate, the side that’s been targeted can’t just ignore it.”
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed the foetal heartbeat bill on May 7 this year.