Netflix threatens to boycott state of Georgia over controversial abortion ban

Earlier this month, the state of Alabama passed one of the nation's most restrictive bans on abortion in recent years, and it sparked a veritable domino effect. Now, both Missouri and Georgia have announced similar anti-abortion bills. The draconian laws would prohibit abortion after a "foetal heartbeat" can be detected, oftentimes before most women have even realised they're pregnant.

The backlash was swift, with thousands of women taking to Twitter to speak about their personal experiences, using the hashtags #ShoutYourAbortion, and #YouKnowMe. Last week, people also took to the streets to march as part of the #StopTheBans protest. Over 500 marches were occurred at statehouses, town squares and courthouses across the US, as well as in Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Now, streaming service, Netflix, has announced that if Georgia's bill goes ahead, they would "rethink their entire investment" in the state.

As The New York Times reported, this is a significant decision given that Hollywood has been investing heavily in Georgia due to its tax breaks. Over the past few years, blockbusters such as The Hunger Games, Black Panther, and Captain America: Civil War, have all been produced there, as well as Netflix' Stranger Things and Ozark.

"We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” said the company's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, in a statement to Variety.

"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"

He added that Netflix would be working "with the ACLU and others to fight [the bill] in court".

This comes after actress Kristen Wigg announced that her upcoming feature, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, would no longer be filmed in the state due to the contentious bill.

Further, actress Alyssa Milano - one of the figureheads of the #MeToo movement - sent a letter to Georgia's governor saying that she would never work in the state again unless the bill was scrapped.

It has since been signed by the likes of Amy Schumer, Alec Baldwin, Ben Stiller, Laverne Cox, Patricia Arquette, and Don Cheadle.