Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has recently released a statement distancing himself from a pro-life campaign that makes use of his hit song "Small Bump."
In an Instagram post last week, Sheeran said that he recently found out that the song was being used to promote the campaign opposing the repeal of Ireland's Eighth Amendment, which outlaws abortion in the country.
"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 in an Instagram story post, Indy100 reported.
According to Reuters, the 27-year-old singer had written the song in 2011 for a friend who had lost a child.
The lyrics to the song include: "You might be left with my hair, but you'll have your mother's eyes / I'll hold your body in my hands, be as gentle as I can / But for now you're a scan of my unmade plans."
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service accused pro-life advocates of "conflating pregnancy loss and abortion" and that it hoped Sheeran's statement would raise awareness about the issue.
"People have been scared of speaking out about this, so it's great that he is lending his voice," a spokeswoman for the group told Reuters.
As many as 125,000 Irish voters have been added to the supplementary electoral register during the registration period ahead of the referendum this coming Friday, according to The Independent.
James Doorley, NYCI deputy director, said that many of the additions were young voters, but there were some electors who were not in the 18 to 29 age group, but were just changing the location of their vote.
According to Reuters, recent polls show that up to 56 percent of voters support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, which recognizes the right to the life of both the mother and the unborn child.
If the amendment is repealed, the government is expected to introduce legislation that would allow abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions will only be legal beyond that period in cases when there is a risk to the life or health of the mother, or in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.
Under current law, those who are caught performing abortions can be imprisoned for up to 14 years.
