*Netflix is threatening to boycott Georgia if the state’s “Heartbeat Bill” goes into effect, with the streaming giant vowing to pull the company’s multi-million dollar productions over the anti-abortion law.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the controversial bill May 7, which prohibits abortions after six weeks (or once a doctor detects the heartbeat of a fetus) beginning January 2020.
Netflix is one of several Hollywood studios that takes advantages of Georgia’s tax incentives for film and television projects. The company has several productions in the state, including the series “Stranger Things” and “Ozark,” along with the upcoming film “Holidate,” but that might change should the bill become law next year.
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BREAKING: Louisiana lawmakers pass “heartbeat” abortion ban; Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards expected to sign the bill into law. https://t.co/pL0GSminjU
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 29, 2019
“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” Netflix said in statement to Variety. “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. Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.”
NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia and Disney have also voiced concern over the new laws in recent days.
“We fully expect that the heartbeat bills and similar laws in various states will face serious legal challenges and will not go into effect while the process proceeds in court. If any of these laws are upheld, it would strongly impact our decision-making on where we produce our content in the future,” NBCUniversal said in a statement Thursday.
AMC Networks has also come out against Georgia’s new abortion law.
“If this highly restrictive legislation goes into effect, we will reevaluate our activity in Georgia,” the company said in a statement. “Similar bills – some even more restrictive – have passed in multiple states and have been challenged. This is likely to be a long and complicated fight and we are watching it all very closely.”
Meanwhile, Hollywood’s reaction to the state’s abortion law has been mixed. Jason Bateman, who stars in “Ozark,” and Alyssa Milano of “Insatiable” have promised to boycott if the law goes into effect. Directors J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele, who are producing the series “Lovecraft Country,” have decided that show must go on but they will reportedly donate their salaries and fees to the ACLU and local activists groups.
Tyler Perry operates his movie studio out of Georgia, but he has not addressed the abortion ban controversy.
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