Photo: Cheryl Burke/Tiktok
Cheryl Burkeis sharing her story.
Burke, 38, made her stance on the U.S. Supreme Court’s groundbreakingdecision to overturnRoe v. Wadeclear on Friday, solemnly revealing in a newTikTokvideo that she had an abortion when she was 18 years old.
“You’re taking away women’s rights, our bodies, our freedom. Our bodies have nothing to do with anybody else, right? This is a decision that we need to make,” she added.
She explained in the video that she decided to get an abortion at a point in her life where she “was going through a really huge transition.”
“I was practicing safe sex. I was using protection and I was on birth control and s–– happens,” she said. “I was two weeks pregnant when I got an abortion. I remember rolling up to Planned Parenthood with Picketers holding anti-abortion signs and that alone was traumatic. But, on top of it all, the whole process is traumatic and the fact that now, you’re making it illegal for us women to make this decision about our own bodies is absolutely insanity.”
Added Burke: “It’s nobody’s business and honestly, I’m happy that I made that decision. I have no regrets, there’s no shame behind it. I’ve just chosen to share it now, but that doesn’t mean that there was any shame.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Supreme Court announced its decision to reverseRoe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling granting women the constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday morning – leaving the power to allow or outlaw abortions up to the individual states that make up the U.S.
RELATED VIDEO: Kamala Harris on Roe v. Wade
Other celebrities, includingQueer Eye’sJonathan Van Ness,Hailey Bieber, and Tracee Ellis Rosscommented on the rulingon Friday amid large-scale protests.
Former First LadyMichelle Obamaalso reacted to the news in a statement posted both toTwitter,FacebookandInstagram, saying she was “heartbroken.”
“I am heartbroken that we may now be destined to learn the painful lessons of a time beforeRoewas made law of the land — a time when women risked losing their lives getting illegal abortions,” she wrote in part.
“When we don’t understand our history, we are doomed to repeat its mistakes,” she continued, adding links toPlanned ParenthoodandThe United State of Women Reproductive Justice Hubfor those looking to take action.
source: people.com
