Woman Films Her Own Abortion, Shares it On YouTube and Says Its ‘Cool’: Viral Footage Sparks Controversy

One woman’s brutally raw admission has become the center of controversy. Emily Letts, an abortion counselor at the Cherry Hill Women’s Center in New Jersey, opted to share her own personal experience with abortion for the world to see. On March 14, she published a video to YouTube, which captured her undergoing an abortion procedure. In addition to the actual procedure, Letts chronicles the days leading up to the abortion and her life afterwards.

The brief documentary starts off with Letts introducing herself. She gives an in-depth description of what her job entails. Letts explained that part of her job as a counselor is encouraging women to have abortions without viewing it as an immoral practice. Then, the 25-year-old counselor went on to announce her own pregnancy. However, it’s clear that she isn’t too thrilled about it. Letts simply stated that she isn’t ready for motherhood. Then, she revealed that she was scheduled to have an abortion on the following day.

The disturbing, three-minute video then shifts to the moments leading up to the procedure. Letts actually seems to gleam in anticipation. She even hums throughout out the procedure. Afterwards, she appears liberated and quite pleased with her decision.

“Cool,” she said once the doctor announced that the procedure was over. “I feel good.”

The footage then moves to Letts recounting the procedure a month later. According to Cosmopolitan, she explained why she opted to film her abortion. The video is supposed to be a form of positive inspiration for women who may be battling with the decision of whether or not they should have an abortion.

Letts stated that she feels no guilt. However, she does feel empowered every time she watches the video again.

“Still, every time I watch the video, I love it,” she wrote. “I love how positive it is. I think that there are just no positive abortion stories on video for everyone to see. But mine is.”

She even compared her “happy feelings” during the abortion to giving birth, which sparked even more of a controversy. The video alone has received more than 10,100 views since it was published. It has received mixed reviews as some viewers actually agree with her perspective.

“I think this is brave and beautiful and I’m about to be a mom. For all the people about to call her a whore and killer please stop and think for a second. Not everyone is meant to be a parent and birth control does fail. You can’t tell people to not have sex. It’s unreasonable,” said Elizabeth Schrader via Cosmopolitan. Instead we have to focus on making birth control and plan B more readily available to the masses and teaching kids everything about sex. I think she did the right thing. I would rather see a woman get a safe abortion vs. drowning her kids because she was pressured to have and keep them which happens a lot.”

Then, there are others who feel her actions are absolutely repulsive.

And this is our society now…? I understand (although don’t agree) with some circumstances that end in abortion. HOWEVER, this is disgusting. Using abortion as form of birth control…is unreal. And way too common. I have no kind words…and am doing all I can to avoid name calling. Disgusting.

Letts has also given a detailed account of what the experience means to her. She also expressed how important the sonogram photo is to her although she aborted the baby. Here’s what she had to say:

“I remember breathing and humming through it like I was giving birth,” she wrote. “I know that sounds weird, but to me, this was as birth-like as it could be. It will always be a special memory for me. I still have my sonogram, and if my apartment were to catch fire, it would be the first thing I’d grab.”

Do you agree or disagree with Letts’ perspective on abortion?

Image via Emily Letts, Facebook