WASHINGTON, D.C., January 15, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – One of Hollywood’s most outspoken pro-life celebrities spoke with LifeSiteNews in an exclusive interview about how she was offered abortion 8 years ago when she found herself facing a crisis pregnancy.
27-year-old singer-songwriter and rising political star Joy Villa—known also for her controversial “statement dresses” at the Grammys— said that instead of listening to the advice to “terminate” from the nurse at the Woman’s Clinic in California, she instead chose to place her child for adoption.
“Adoption was the answer for me. Yes, it was scary—this real life situation is scary. Facing the unknown is scary, but what is the alternative? Murder. That is what abortion is,” she told LifeSiteNews.
“I ultimately chose an open adoption, and am so grateful that I did. I am very much a part of my daughter’s life,” she added.
Villa said that women facing a crisis pregnancy should not be “pressured into a life of regret, being the cause of death to your child.”
The singer-songwriter related how her preborn baby helped her leave a “dark place” of drugs, alcohol, and abuse. She was 19 at the time.
“In a way, however, this little life inside me saved my life. I stopped with the drugs, the alcohol,” she said.
Villa said that she is glad to use her “publicity as a platform for life.” She will be attending this year’s March for Life in Washington D.C.
“I definitely encourage all people—men, women, families—to join me in Washington, DC, January 18th. I’ll be marching with you. Come see what the Mainstream Media refuses to report each year: that there are hundreds of thousands of people who are like-minded, pro-life and willing to support you,” she said.
“There’s a freedom in this free discourse of Life. What’s more, it’s just so much fun—pro-lifers are truly, full of life!” she added.
LifeSiteNews full interview with Joy Villa
LifeSiteNews (LSN): Joy, tell our readers a little about your formative years, and what drove you towards a career in the Entertainment Industry.
Joy Villa (JV): I grew up in a fairly religious household, between New York City and Santa Barbra, CA. My father was a Christian Minister of Hispanic heritage, and my mother was black. While I was young, I aspired towards greatness. My parents enrolled me in Theatre, and I fell in love with the art of it—making people happy made me happy! By age 10, I was acting, and by age 16—having graduated from high school early—I began acting full time, getting my break in local tv. I suppose I was always pro-life. It just made sense to me, my father—my best friend—really formed and grounded me that life was a sacred thing, from cradle to grave. It was only later, when I was around 17 or 18 years old, that I choose to embrace a Leftist, Liberal lifestyle and viewpoint.
LSN: You were so young, when you started on your career path in the Industry. With all that has been revealed, this past year–of the horrendous culture of abuse in Hollywood– did you experience this?
JV: Yes, I actually did. When I was 13 years old, my parents dropped me off for a photo-shoot. Headshots, etc. They had met and approved of the photographer, you understand. Yet, after we had started—and my parents had left by that time—the photographer began insinuating that I could do more, show more skin. I was 13, and in this moment, I was made to feel like a sex object.
LSN: Do you think your experiences like this, and others when you were in Hollywood, pushed you towards hardening your views towards liberalism?
JV: Yes! As I continued to work in the industry—and primarily, at this time, I was acting (CSI NY, Heroes)—the naiveté that I had, simply because I had been protected by my parents, gave way to rebellion. I found myself dealing with more and more explicit offers—especially when I was between acting gigs—even being offered to do porn at one point. I remember being horrified by that, at first. Understand, though, as I began to live in the fast lifestyle so many do in Hollywood—that sex, drugs, rock-in-roll high life—it became more and more difficult to refuse this type of work. I have compassion for those who fall into it.
LSN: So, what happened? How did you find yourself grounded, again?
JV: By 19, I had met a man—he was, honestly, my second real relationship. We quickly moved in together. Reality, then, kicked in. He was abusive—not just physically, but with drugs. Hard drugs, pharmaceutical drugs. I experienced this reality in phases—first, found him smoking weed, taking the pharmaceutical drugs—and I excused them. After all, I had done them—as were pretty much everyone we knew. It wasn’t so bad, until he laid his hands on me. I knew, instinctively, that this was a line no one should cross. I left him, shortly after.
That, however, wasn’t the end of this story. While staying with a friend, I realized I had missed my cycle. She insisted on driving me to a clinic—and it was there, at that Woman’s Clinic in California, that I found out I was pregnant.
LSN: Joy, let’s focus on that time—and your experiences of that moment. So many young women are experiencing similar ones, right now. What happened?
JV: I remember that the nurse who escorted me into the examination room was an older lady—so very kind, gentle, soft-spoken. Comforting.
LSN: Like a mother?
JV: Exactly as a mother would be—my mother and I had been, unfortunately, estranged by this point–shortly before she passed, actually—so this is exactly the support I needed. When the nurse came back in with the results, my first reaction was—elation. I wasn’t afraid. This was a baby—I had life! This may have been a bit of the naiveté of a 19yr old, but I was filled with joy, at first. This joy, however, was quickly replaced with dread and doubt—by none other than that kindly, older woman, my nurse. When she told me that I was pregnant—within the same breath, and in the same supportive tones she began saying that she could get me an immediate referral to terminate. To not worry, the abortion would be free. She mentioned she had daughters around my age, all of whom had abortions and that they were fine. I remember her tone so well—she was happy. She kept focusing on how to get rid of this baby, without offering any other option—no help, nothing on adoption or counseling. I remember mumbling a refusal, and her continued insistence. I finally made an excuse that I had to leave, because my friend was waiting—and I left the clinic, vulnerable and full of anxiety. What would I do? How could I face this, alone?
LSN: So what did you do?
JV: I spent the next month in utter confusion. I felt broken, abandoned. I did act a bit, but I was really in a dark place. I made a decision that I should return to the father—this abusive man—after a time. I suppose I thought, maybe because of my formation, that in order for this to work I’d have to stick it out with him. Shortly after, he returned to his abuse—and when he shoved me against a wall, I finally called the police. I ended it. So, there I was again—pregnant and alone. In a way, however, this little life inside me saved my life. I stopped with the drugs, the alcohol. I did odd jobs—friends landed me with a nanny gig. I remember, during this time, while babysitting I found myself sobbing—I did that often, during this time. Trying to distract myself, I began reading the paper, and my eyes fell on an ad in the Wanted section: “Loving home seeking to Adopt”. I prayed, and then I called the number. The woman on the other end was so lovely, and so supportive—and as we progressed, I was introduced to others who educated me on options, on obtaining support.
LSN: Everything that nurse should have given you?
JV: Yes, exactly—information that should have been the first to be given to me, by that nurse—not just information on how to kill the life growing inside me. Nothing in that clinic gave me actual choice, no pamphlets on different forms of adoption, nothing. Just death in the face of this new life. I ultimately chose an open adoption, and am so grateful that I did. I am very much a part of my daughter’s life.
LSN: What would you say to young women in similar situations, Joy?
JV: Adoption was the answer for me. Yes, it was scary—this real-life situation is scary. Facing the unknown is scary, but what is the alternative? Murder. That is what abortion is. Look at the statistics—look at what is being passed in legislation. Thank God for the “Heartbeat Bill”! Educate yourself in the science, grab onto your faith—grab onto common sense. You don’t have to face the scary unknown alone. Don’t be pressured into a life of regret, being the cause of death to your child.
LSN: Joy, you’ve heard a push by some in Hollywood to “Shout their abortions”. You speak of regret. Since your very public pro-life statement at the Grammys, last year, have you been approached by women working in the industry, who regret their abortions—and if so, what have you said to them?
JV: Well, I’ve been contacted by a lot of individuals with hate. I’ve endured rape threats, threats of violence and really abusive language. That, in itself, proves the point of the culture of death. Most of the women I have been contacted by, however, have found themselves in similar situations as I—or are at that critical time of decision and vulnerability. I am glad to be able to use my publicity as a platform for life. I have, however, been approached—always privately—by a few women in executive roles—TV, music—who have said they regret their abortions. To them, I have said—I understand brokenness. I have been there. It’s okay to be broken, but life is worth living. Life is never wrong.
LSN: Finally, Joy—are you planning to attend this year’s “March For Life”? If so, do you think your work in the #WalkAway movement corresponds with Marching in honor of Life?
JV: #WalkAway movement is a perfect example, actually, of what a woman should do in the face of the overwhelming pressures of the culture of death. In this political movement, we see people from all backgrounds and values who have endured demonization when questioning the talking points of the Left. Those who choose to #WalkAway are finding themselves among people who value civility–who value them because they simply exist and value their dignity. They are choosing to walk away from dehumanization, where life does not matter.
LSN: Any last words?
JV: I definitely encourage all people—men, women, families—to join me in Washington, DC, January 18th. I’ll be marching with you. Come see what the Mainstream Media refuses to report each year: that there are hundreds of thousands of people who are like-minded, pro-life and willing to support you. There’s a freedom in this free discourse of Life. What’s more, it’s just so much fun—pro-lifers are truly, full of life!
LifeSiteNews will be meeting up with Joy Villa and friends during the 2019 Annual March for Life, in Washington DC. Stay tuned.