speaking out

Alyssa Milano and More Push for a Hollywood Boycott of Georgia

Milano, Mark Duplass, and David Simon have vowed not to work there; major studios and production companies, however, remain silent.
alyssa milano
From SheMedia/REX/Shutterstock.

Alyssa Milano is doubling down on her fight against Georgia’s restrictive, controversial bill that will ban abortion after six weeks—before most women even know they’re pregnant. Prior to the bill’s passage on Tuesday, Milano wrote a letter signed by 50 Hollywood stars—from Don Cheadle to Amy Schumer—vowing they would push back against the state if the bill was passed into law. Now, she is working to make good on her promise.

In a statement to BuzzFeed News, the actress said she is contractually obligated to film in Georgia for the next month for the Netflix show Insatiable, but is working on an exit plan.

“I have to be there for another month but you can be sure I will fight tooth and nail to move Insatiable to a state that will protect our rights,” Milano wrote. “And if it doesn’t move to another state, I will not be able to return to the show if we are blessed with a third season. This is my leverage. I will use it for the betterment of society and our great country.” (Representatives for Netflix have not yet responded to a request for comment.)

David Simon, creator of The Wire and The Deuce, has also said he will no longer work in Georgia, tweeting on Wednesday that he “can’t ask any female member of any film production with which I am involved to so marginalize themselves or compromise their inalienable authority over their own bodies. I must undertake production where the rights of all citizens remain intact. Other filmmakers will see this.” Like Milano, he has since doubled down, tweeting on Friday, “There is no conceivable way that I can, as an employer, ethically ask any of my female colleagues to work in a jurisdiction that limits their health care options and impairs their civil liberties. It isn't possible.”

Actor and director Mark Duplass also tweeted that he would no longer film in Georgia, asking others to join him. “Don’t give your business to Georgia,” he tweeted. “Will you pledge with me not to film anything in Georgia until they reverse this backwards legislation?”

X content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Killer Films C.E.O. Christine Vachon has also stated that her company, which is behind recent movies like First Reformed and Vox Lux, “will no longer consider Georgia as a viable shooting location until this ridiculous law is overturned.”

X content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Georgia has become a vital state for the film and television industry, thanks in large part to its generous tax breaks. High-profile productions like the TV show The Walking Dead and several Disney movies, including Marvel’s $2 billion hit Avengers: Endgame, have been shot in Atlanta. In turn, the flourishing industry has reportedly generated billions of dollars and thousands of jobs in the last 10 years for the state. Thus far, no major studio, including Disney, has commented on the controversial anti-abortion bill and whether production will continue as usual in the wake of backlash and boycotts.

In the meantime, a spokesperson for the MPAA has released the following statement on the issue:

“Film and television production in Georgia supports more than 92,000 jobs and brings significant economic benefits to communities and families. It is important to remember that similar legislation has been attempted in other states, and has either been enjoined by the courts or is currently being challenged. The outcome in Georgia will also be determined through the legal process. We will continue to monitor developments.”

More Great Stories from Vanity Fair

— Lady Gaga’s four outfits, Jared Leto’s head, and all the campy looks from this year’s Met Gala

— Inside Ted Bundy’s real-life relationship with Elizabeth Kloepfer

— The 22 films to look forward to this summer

What’s a movie, anyway?

— A compelling case for Robert Downey Jr. to win an Oscar

Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.