• Busy Philipps encouraged people to share their stories after speaking out about having an abortion at 15 years old.
  • The social media movement, known as “#YouKnowMe,” has led thousands of women to reveal their abortion experiences.
  • “One in four women have had an abortion. Many people think they don’t know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let’s do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let’s share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth,” the actress wrote on Twitter.
  • “#YouKnowMe” follows controversial abortion bills recently signed into law in Georgia and Alabama.
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Busy Philipps called for women to share their abortion stories, and thousands have already joined the #YouKnowMe movement on social media.

“One in four women have had an abortion. Many people think they don’t know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let’s do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let’s share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth,” she wrote on Twitter.

Her comment was sparked by a new bill that Georgia's governor, Brian Kemp, signed into law, which aims to ban abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected at six weeks. Since then, the Alabama Senate voted to pass a bill that would effectively ban abortions in the state and criminalize doctors who provide them.

Philipps' message led to a flood of personal stories from women who have also had abortions. Many people explained the reasoning behind their decision, like not feeling ready to become a parent or not being able to financially support a child. Actresses Cynthia Nixon and Alia Shawkat also revealed their stories.

https://twitter.com/ShawkatAlia/status/1128824439968133120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Others applauded women for opening up, but didn't feel comfortable sharing details about their abortions. Many also said that women shouldn't feel the need to explain, justify, or rehash their experiences.

https://twitter.com/nesatispi/status/1128754255689547781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

On a recent episode of her talk show called "Busy Tonight," Philipps spoke out about having an abortion at 15 years old.

Read more: Busy Philipps encourages women to speak out against Georgia's abortion ban, and reveals her own experience at 15

"Maybe you're sitting there thinking, 'I don't know a woman who would have an abortion.' Well, you know me,'" she said."

The 39-year-old continued: "I'm telling you this because I'm genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country. And I think that we all need to be talking more and sharing our stories more."

Speaking to the New York Times, the actress said that Tina Fey reached out to her about taking the reproductive rights conversation to social media.

"She said, 'I think you hit on something, which is 'you know me.' It makes it very personal. I think you should think about starting that hashtag,'" Philipps said.

Philipps' abortion story gained traction after she spoke about it on "Busy Tonight," but she first revealed it in her 2018 memoir titled "This Will Only Hurt a Little."