Anthony Edwards Is Proof We Need to Talk about Coercive Abortion

By Alina Clough

“Her body, her choice” is a frequent refrain of pro-abortion advocates. We take it for granted that every abortion performed, while perhaps not enthusiastically undertaken, is at least the choice of the woman taking the pills or on the operating table. What’s too rarely addressed though, is the all-too-common situation of women like Instagram model Paige Jordae being forced into abortion by the men who fathered their babies.

Anthony Edwards, a shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is one of the up-and-coming stars of the NBA. The 2020 first overall pick has been notoriously cocky about his skills on the court, recently bragging that even Michael Jordan couldn’t guard him. He’s now going viral, however, for something less flex-worthy: coercing a woman into an abortion.

In texts posted to social media, Jordae sends Edwards a photo of a pregnancy test. Edwards had gotten her pregnant while cheating on his current girlfriend, Jeanine Robles, who also announced a pregnancy of her own just last week.

He responded, “Hell naw” to Jordae. After she pressed him further about what to do, he replied, “Get a abortion lol.” Jordae protested, saying she didn’t want an abortion and even explaining that she regrets having one years ago. Edwards insisted, saying that he’d send her money to have the abortion alone.

After she made it clear that he’s the sole reason she’s having an abortion, he then forced her to send him a video of her taking the abortion pills. Finally, he stopped responding to her texts altogether, telling her to follow up with his attorney, who eventually wired her $100,000.

The text screenshots sparked instant backlash across the internet, even causing his coach to make a statement condemning his behavior. 

“I think it’s important to state that it’s not reflective of our organization, of our values, and as a young man...” Chris Finch, the Timberwolves’ head coach, said. “It’s clear that the education and maturity of Anthony Edwards continues to be a work in progress.”

Edwards released a statement of his own on social media, saying “I made comments in the heat of the moment that are not me, and that are not aligned with what I believe and who I want to be as a man. All women should be supported and empowered to make their own decisions about their bodies and what is best for them”

His apology isn’t saving him from the criticism of fans, however, who flooded his social media comments section to express their disapproval.

“Cheated on you pregnant gf and got another girl pregnant u sick,” one user said.

Another added, “Paying women to k*ll kids bc you ain’t man enough ……” 

Sentiments in Jordae’s comment section were split. Some offered sympathy, saying “...Misogyny at its finest how r yall defending a man that won’t accept the consequences of his actions then bash her? How is it her problem for being the parent that stayed?” 

Others emphasized her responsibility in the situation, with one commenting, “This crazy. Abortions are serious on us women, I’ve had one myself.. But you’d think since she regretted the first one so much, she’d be extra cautious not to be in same situation again. No sympathy for ppl who put their town selves in bad situations. He should have wrapped up and she should of made sure he was wrapped and/or on some type of BC, they both to blame.”

Jordae’s story is tragically common. The man involved in a pregnancy is often the main influence on whether the woman will have an abortion. Of women who choose to abort their babies, 3 out of 4 talked to their partner beforehand for advice, and most of the time, those men were the ones pushing for abortion. Of the 74% of men who were asked, 42% “suggested” or “strongly urged” that their partner abort their baby, and a measly 8% “strongly urged” she keep the child. Other men refused to give their partner any advice at all, which most women in surveys say they took to mean their partners wanted them to “just take care of it.”

Nearly 70% of women who have had abortions describe them as inconsistent with their own values and preferences. Twenty-five percent of women say their abortions were explicitly unwanted or coerced. Most women say they were pressured to have abortions by one or more outside sources, often romantic partners. Tragically, most also say they would have chosen to give birth to the baby if they had just had more support.

Jordae’s situation shows that “Her body, her choice” is a total cop-out. While Edwards is a uniquely reprehensible case, having impregnated a woman while cheating, a stunning 85% of abortions occur outside of marriage, with the majority occurring in relationships of under a year. Keeping sex in committed relationships is one of the easiest ways both men and women can help avoid the senseless deaths caused by abortion.

Edwards’ texts are chilling. Research shows that women in the U.S. endure similar bullying regarding child-rearing every single day. Abortion has never been just a woman’s issue, and the men who push that narrative are just looking to dodge responsibility with faux progressive talking points. America’s men can do better, but not if we continue to let them off the hook.

Alina Clough lives in Washington, D.C. and is a writer at Evie Magazine where she focuses on women's health and bioethics.