Netflix to "rethink entire investment in GA" if abortion restriction goes into effect

Many musicians, comedians, and other artists spoke out following the passage of near-total abortion bans in multiple US stages, including Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri and Ohio. Now Netflix has become the first major Hollywood Studio to follow suit. As Vulture points out, a 20-30% tax incentive has made Georgia a choice location for many film and television productions, including Netflix’s Stranger Things and Ozark, both of which are filmed in the state.

In a statement to CNBC, Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarando said the company would “rethink our entire investment in Georgia” if the so-called GA “heartbeat law” goes into effect:

“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement sent to CNBC on Tuesday. “It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. 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.”

Georgia’s law is set to go into effect in 2020, but in the wake of its passage, Kristen Wiig and her Bridesmaids collaborator Annie Mumolo cancelled shoots for Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar, which they had planned to film in Georgia, and director Reed Morano pulled her Amazon series The Power from the state as well, telling Time, “we had no problem stopping the entire process instantly. There is no way we would ever bring our money to that state by shooting there.”