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Social media erupted Thursday after a viral clip surfaced of Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams telling an audience that there was “nothing” like a fetal heartbeat six weeks into a pregnancy .
“There is no such thing as a heartbeat at six weeks,” Abrams said at an event at Atlanta’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. “It’s a manufactured soundbite designed to convince people that men have the right to take control of a woman’s body.”
Pro-life social media users were quick to criticize Abrams, accusing her of spreading medical misinformation as a means of supporting her pro-choice stance.
“Whaaaaaat hahaha manufactured by who? She thinks some doctor is hiding behind the doppler beatbox on a microphone perfectly mimicking a heartbeat? Stacey Abrams is so deranged,” podcast host Liz Wheeler wrote.
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“Still puzzled by Stacey Abrams’ statement here: “fabricated?” The idea that the sound of a heartbeat could somehow be “fabricated” or digitally added to an ultrasound is just a wild conspiracy theory to introduce in the universe,” said a Republican communicator. Matt Whitlock wrote.
Republican politician Lavern Spicer also joined the conversation, joking that no one can detect a heartbeat in Abrams either.
“When pro-abortionists deny that a fetal heartbeat can be detected at 6 weeks, they argue that it is not *technically* a heartbeat because it is not a fully formed heart. No one is saying that heartbeats picked up by ultrasound are literally bogus (except Stacey). Abrams),” chimed in Laurel Duggan, reporter for the Daily Caller.
Other disgruntled Twitter users also weighed in on Abrams’ controversial claim.
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Some forms of ultrasound can detect heart activity in an embryo as early as six weeks, although they are most effective at detecting a heartbeat around eight weeks. There is much debate among pro-life and pro-choice groups about what exactly a heartbeat means, as numerous medical textbooks use words like “heart” and “heartbeat” to refer to the cardiovascular system of ‘an embryo in different stages of development. Even Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, stipulates that a “very basic beating heart” develops between five and six weeks.
Fox News Digital reached out to Abrams’ office for clarification, but did not hear back.
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Abrams, with his comment, appeared to be referring to a piece of Georgia legislation known as the Living Infant Fairness and Equality (Life) Act, or “heartbeat” bill, which prohibits the ‘abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, sometimes as early as six weeks. The law includes exceptions for rape and incest, as long as a police report is filed. It also allows subsequent abortions when the mother’s life is at risk or a serious illness interferes with the viability of the pregnancy.
The bill was signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, R., Abrams’ opponent in a rematch of his 2018 contest.
Timothy HJ Nerozzi of Fox News contributed to this report.
