"So disgusting and so disturbing": Olivia Rodrigo speaks out against Georgia’s abortion law showing support for Adriana Smith

American singer Olivia Rodrigo addressed the growing outrage over Adriana Smith, a brain-dead woman who remained on life support in Georgia to keep her pregnancy viable. Rodrigo shared a discussion quote on reproductive rights through her Instagram story. She posted,

"The fact that a brain-dead woman’s body can be used as a fetal incubator is a stark reminder to all of us that under patriarchy — a ‘fetus is a person’, but a woman isn’t. – Farida D."

In addition to the quote, Olivia Rodrigo described the situation as “so disgusting and so disturbing.” She also wrote, “Adriana Smith deserved better.”

Adriana Smith, a nurse and single mom at 30, was about nine weeks into her pregnancy when headache problems started. Family accounts shared with local news revealed that doctors refused her a CT scan. The next day, her breathing worsened, and she was rushed to the hospital. There, doctors found brain clots. Things got worse, and within hours, she was declared brain-dead.

Once doctors made their diagnosis, the family learned about Georgia law. Since the state recognizes fetal "personhood" from the moment a heartbeat is found, the law requires that Smith stay connected to life support to keep the pregnancy going. Doctors used machines to monitor the fetus's growth over the next three months.

The baby, named Chance, was delivered via cesarean section on June 13. Weighing just 538 grams, he went straight to a neonatal intensive care unit. After the birth, they took Smith off life support. Earlier, medical staff had flagged issues with the baby’s health, mentioning problems like fluid on the brain and possible lifelong disabilities.

Adriana Smith’s story renews focus on abortion law and family consent

Georgia’s abortion law, enacted after Roe v. Wade was overturned, considers life as beginning when a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks into pregnancy. This law grants “personhood” to the fetus, which affects medical decisions in complicated situations like Smith's.

Adriana Smith's mother, April Newkirk, raised questions in public about the laws that stopped the family from deciding on end-of-life matters. While talking to reporters, she said the family wished for the baby's survival but believed the power to decide should have been theirs, not the government's.

This case has caught national interest and led to debates over medical ethics, individual rights to make decisions, and how state laws view fetal rights. Many advocates and groups pointed out this situation to show how laws can come into play during sensitive medical issues.

This week, Smith’s friends, family, and people from the Atlanta community came together at a church to remember what would have been her 31st birthday. They held a rally and released white balloons as a tribute to her memory.

Emory Healthcare, the facility where Adriana Smith got medical care, did not provide details about her specific case. Privacy rules were the reason they did not comment. The hospital did share a general statement explaining that its medical procedures align with clinical guidelines, Georgia’s abortion laws, and legal obligations.

"uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualised treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia's abortion laws and all other applicable laws. Our top priorities continue to be the safety and wellbeing of the patients we serve."

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