Celebs Tweet Support for Planned Parenthood as Organization's President Tries to Undo Damage From Video

Cecile Richards, addressing Congress today, calls accusations that PP is in the business of profiting from the sale of aborted fetal tissue "outrageous"

By Natalie Finn Sep 29, 2015 7:33 PMTags
Cecile Richards, Planned ParenthoodAP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards went to Capitol Hill today to do more damage control ahead of yet another threatened government shutdown.

And she wasn't alone, at least not outside the Capitol nor in spirit.

In addition to those gathered in Washington, D.C., to rally for (or against) the cause, celebs are out in force today on social media, most of them tweeting support for the women's health care organization in the wake of a video that Planned Parenthood critics seized upon as evidence as to why the non-profit service should be stripped of federal funding.

Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

The video, released by anti-abortion activists, purported to show PP officials conspiring to profit from the sale of aborted fetal tissue—an interpretation perpetuated by Carly Fiorina during the second GOP primary debate a couple weeks ago. Since then, despite her strong performance during the 11-person debate, she's come under heavy fire because the more graphic content seen on the video has not been verified as having anything to do with Planned Parenthood.

Addressing Congress today for the first time since the video popped up in July, Richards called the accusations "outrageous" and a "smear campaign." The voice of the opposition included Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who called the video "barbaric and repulsive."

Planned Parenthood's celebrity support network has included Lena Dunham, Scarlett Johansson and Connie Britton and here's a sampling of the support PP has received from the celeb (and political-celeb) corner of the twitterverse: