Olivia Rodrigo: Contraceptives handed out at singer's Missouri gig

Contraceptives and morning-after pills have been handed out at US pop star Olivia Rodrigo's concert in Missouri, where abortion is banned.

Concert-goers could pick up free condoms and emergency contraception from stands at the venue in St Louis.

Last month, the Drivers License singer launched the Fund 4 Good campaign, a global initiative for people "seeking reproductive health freedom".

Birth control, such as morning-after pills, are legal in the US.

But abortions in the US state of Missouri are illegal, with exceptions of saving a pregnant woman's life or preventing risk to physical health.

A proceed of profits from Rodrigo's tour, which has partnered with the National Network of Abortion Funds, will go towards Fund 4 Good.

An activist from Right by You, a text line which helps teens find abortion care outside Missouri, told the Guardian Rodrigo had invited the charities, but it was their choice to distribute contraceptives.

Republican Missouri state senator Bill Eigel posted on X that the singer should be "ashamed" for handing out an "abortifacient", a drug which causes abortion.

However morning-after pills prevent, not end, pregnancy, and the NHS website says: "Emergency contraception can stop you getting pregnant after unprotected sex... You need to use emergency contraception within 3 to 5 days of having unprotected sex."

MSI Reproductive Choices, a non-government organisation which provides contraception and abortion services in 37 countries, told BBC News "it's great to see Olivia Rodrigo using her platform to shine a light on the importance of reproductive choice".

"But it can never replace being able to access high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare services from a trusted provider when and where you need it," they added.

It's not the first time Rodrigo has made her stance on abortion public.

She used her Glastonbury debut in 2022 to protest against the overturning of Roe v Wade, which removed the federal right to abortion.

The anti-abortion movement celebrated a landmark victory, while pro-choice activists warned of a looming public health crisis.

Bringing on Lily Allen, the pair sang one of Allen's expletive-filled tracks.

"I'm devastated and terrified that so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this," said Rodrigo.

"I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who have showed us that at the end of the day, they truly don't care about freedom."