Gwen Stefani has left fans ‘absolutely devastated’ after promoting a controversial app which includes anti-abortion prayers.
The No Doubt star appeared in an advert for Hallow, a ‘pay-to-pray’ app which costs $69.99 (£52.50) annually or $9.99 (£7.50) a month.
Gwen, 56, has also read prayers and spoken in sermons for Hallow over the past year, having publicly reconnected with her faith in 2020.
Fans voiced disappointment in the singer, branding her a ‘sellout’, as the app includes anti-abortion prayers, which explicitly mention cases of rape and incest.
Many felt this move was at odds with her image from the 90s, while others criticised the concept of a paywall for prayers.
Podcast host Matt Bernstein called the app ‘religious grifting’ and criticised Gwen’s involvement, highlighting the concerning rhetoric over bodily autonomy.
‘This IS bananas. b-a-n-a-n-a-s 🛐,’ he wrote in the caption, pointing out the ‘regressive’ app is backed by JD Vance and other right-wing political figures.
He read out one prayer which mentioned giving ‘special thought’ to those who are pregnant by incest and rape, but implies they should keep the fetus.
Abortion laws in the US have been a political battlefield over the past few years, with the Supreme Court eliminating the constitutional right in 2022.
This has meant that individual states have introduced increasingly restrictive laws about abortion.
Some states now require pregnant people to carry non-viable fetuses to term, such as Texas, or in Mississippi, where a 13-year-old girl was forced to carry out her pregnancy after being raped.
According to the podcast host, some Hallow prayers are also read by Lila Rose, who is a vocal anti-abortion campaigner that Gwen follows on social media.
‘If you’re looking for God this season, if that’s your thing, you don’t need to give these people $70 to find him,’ Matt concluded.
Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause commented on the post, writing: ‘Gwen-DON’T SPEAK. Please take your own advice on this one🫠.’
‘She used to be women’s empowerment. My 90s idol. No more!’ added Sarah Delisle, which was a feeling many fans echoed.
_waterwitch666 said: ‘The little girl inside of me that looked up to her was just absolutely devastated.’
On Gwen’s original post, michael.angelaux wrote: ‘I love you, Gwen but unfortunately I ain’t no Hallow app girl. 😬’
‘Promoting a pro-life homophobic conservative funded app is gross,’ commented bloodymaryjanes.
‘This is very disappointing, Gwen’, said mannyc17. ‘Lots of your fans are from the LGBTQ+ community and this feels like a deep betrayal.’
Gwen isn’t the only celebrity to endorse the controversial app, with Chris Pratt, Mark Wahlberg, Bear Grylls, and Kevin James also promoting it.
Many took issue with the concept of paying to access prayers, with religious practices usually free to all.
‘God is free, Gwen. Touch some grass,’ musician Mariel Buckley said.
Some fans did support Gwen, with shannonmckinstrie writing: ‘And here I thought there was no way I could love you more 😭’.
Momlarobs added: ‘The comments on here are ridiculous. “If you don’t think like me and support my beliefs I don’t like you!” (Stomps feet) You do you Gwen!!’
‘Why do you care what other people believe? Absolutely ridiculous.’ said stephanie_m_soper.
Gwen was raised Catholic, going to church regularly into her 20s, before her music career took over and she ‘fell away’ from her faith.
However, she’s never hidden that the No Doubt persona wasn’t really true to her own personal values.
In an interview with Vogue in 2004, she said: ‘The scene that I grew up with female artists like Bikini Kill and Hole and all these more punk-rock girls, I always had the pressure of “You’ve got to be a feminist, and you’ve got to hate guys. And you’ve got to cuss and be tough.”
‘And I was never like that. I grew up, like, a Catholic good girl. Total Brady Bunch family. That always kind of scared me, the pressure of having to be so cool.
‘But I kind of got over that and realised that, yes, I love to dress up and I love to wear makeup and be myself. I like being a girl; I like having a door opened for me; I like all that traditional stuff, and I won’t deny it.’
Metro has reached out to Gwen’s team for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.