New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson announced Tuesday that he is producing a documentary on abortion.
The pro-life father of seven began filming “Divided Hearts of America” in May, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie is budgeted at less than $1 million and is financed by donors and by Watson’s One More Foundation, an organization focused on issues such as hunger, poverty, and prison reform.
Watson, who has played football for 15 years and will retire after his contract with the Patriots expires following the Super Bowl, told The Hollywood Reporter that he never thought he would be involved in a movie.
“But so many different laws have passed in New York, Alabama, Georgia, it seems this issue—which has always been a part of our national consciousness—has ramped up recently,” the football player said, adding:
Things are at a fever pitch. My goal is to unveil the truth about abortion, the laws, the history and where our country is headed. I believe in the sanctity of life, be it in the womb or on your deathbed. That’s my conviction. But with the film, I’ll engage those who disagree and hear their reasoning. The No. 1 thing I’m looking for is empathy on both sides.
The movie will explore both pro-choice and pro-life perspectives on abortion in the United States, the publication reports, with Watson interviewing 30 pro-life and pro-choice Americans.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, Alveda King, will make appearances.
Watson often publicly defends his pro-life beliefs. The NFL tight end spoke out against actress Alyssa Milano in May 2019 when she said banning abortions would cause women of color to suffer.
Watson told Milano that her words revealed ignorance and racism, and told The Daily Caller News Foundation earlier this month that the two discussed the topic offline.
“We don’t agree at all on these topics, but I appreciate her willingness to engage,” Watson said.
“We shouldn’t be advocating for anyone to have to kill their children,” he said. “Let’s support mothers that are making this decision. Let’s challenge fathers to stand in the gap and be there for the children that they create because they have a huge role in this too.”
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