Actress Natasha Lyonne has set the record straight after sparking a firestorm with her comment that “12-year-olds should be able to get abortions.” Following widespread backlash, the “Poker Face” star took to social media to explain what she really meant—and her response is just as explosive.
During an interview at the 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Lyonne made a statement that quickly went viral: “When I think of the kids or like the 12-year-old girl that can’t get an abortion or something or you know it’s that—that’s what really like rips me apart.” The remark ignited immediate controversy, prompting Lyonne to clarify her stance in a post on X (formerly Twitter) the next day.
“Not my eloquent best, I grant you,” Lyonne admitted. “To clarify: I meant to say, that in many states now, if a young girl is raped, even by a family member, she would be forced to have that child against her will, or risk going to prison longer than her perpetrator.”
Lyonne, who has never shied away from bold statements, then took an even stronger stance. “And yeah, I think that’s about the darkest way to destroy a young woman’s life & autonomy,” she wrote. “I say that coming from a place of firsthand experience.”
Her post also revealed her fears about speaking out on controversial issues, particularly in today’s political climate. “There is too much unnecessary & violent shrapnel happening to our most marginalized groups & total fear of reprisal in speaking up. Heck, I’m scared too.”
The debate over her words comes at a time when abortion rights are under intense scrutiny, and Lyonne’s comments have only added fuel to the fire. The actress—best known for her roles in “American Pie” and Netflix’s “Russian Doll”—didn’t stop at abortion rights. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she took aim at the broader political landscape, expressing deep concerns over what she called a “risky, political power play.”
“As an empath, I struggle to find the words to articulate my heartbreak for the rising toll of individual human beings presently tangled in this risky, political power play,” she wrote on X. “Our great strength & defining characteristic ought to be in priding ourselves on protecting our most vulnerable, rather than high-fiving as we dismantle basic ethics & equality.”
Lyonne’s revelations about her own past added a deeply personal layer to her impassioned statements. “Speaking as an abused kid, who’s lived a lot of life, both on the skids & at the top, I guess I just don’t know how to stay silent despite the awareness that these days, it’s increasingly risky to be honest.”
She also addressed the intense scrutiny public figures face when voicing their opinions. “Probably not a great sign that free speech is really free if even a rambling, loquacious riffer like yours truly, clams up in the face of a real deal question at some frothy, workplace event.”
Lyonne didn’t hold back when discussing the current political climate, either. “It’s very weird to have like a showbiz guy in charge,” she said, seemingly referencing former President Donald Trump. “I’m actually pretty horrified by how strategic and effective this whole thing has been.”
She then called out the impact of political decisions on marginalized communities. “There’s a real disconnect in all of the noise around the individuals that are going to be really taking the hits on an individual, human basis—the trans community, gay community, Black community.”
Her parting words? A reference to Childish Gambino’s iconic song: “‘This is America.’ So it’s nothing we didn’t know, but always a horror to see up front.”
