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Ed Sheeran ‘Small Bump’ Song Heightens Ireland Abortion Debate

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Grace Carr Reporter
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Famous singer Ed Sheeran’s hit single, “Small Bump,” has caused turbulence among those embattled in a debate about Ireland’s abortion law.

Sheeran released the song in 2012; and after learning the single has been co-opted by pro-lifers, he made a public statement announcing the single is not about demonizing abortion, according to BBC News.

“I’ve been informed that my song, ‘Small Bump,’ is being used to promote the pro-life campaign, and I feel it’s important to let you know I have not given approval for this use; and it does not reflect what the song is about,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram Friday, according to BBC.

Song lyrics include: “You were just a small bump unborn, just four months then torn from life.”

Ireland’s Eighth Amendment outlaws and penalizes those who attempt or successfully abort an unborn child. Abortion advocates have called for the amendment to be changed, calling it “archaic and dangerous.”

Forty percent of Irish people support unrestricted abortion until 12 weeks in pregnancy, yet 33 percent think allowing unrestricted abortion until this pregnancy date goes too far, according to a Sunday Independent and Kantar Millward Brown opinion poll. Roughly 20 percent are undecided. The poll included 970 respondents and was conducted across Britain Feb. 6 to 14.

Fewer than three in 10 Irish support elective abortions, according to Breaking News. Support for elective abortions (namely, abortions for reasons other than to save the mother’s life, rape cases, and grave fetal abnormalities) is low.

Facebook and Google banned all foreign ads related to Ireland’s upcoming referendum on abortion. “This change will apply to ads we determine to be coming from foreign entities which are attempting to influence the outcome of the vote on May 25,” Facebook said in a statement(RELATED: Facebook Bans Foreign Ads On Irish Abortion Referendum)

The vote will be tight, recent polling suggests. The nation will hold its referendum on reforming the Eighth Amendment on May 25.

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