‘Dirty Dancing’ actress considered turning down remake role over abortion scene: ‘Keep your babies’

Singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger said that she considered turning down the role of Penny Johnson in ABC's upcoming television remake of the film “Dirty Dancing” because she is pro-life and the character has an abortion.

In the original 1987 film, Penny Johnson undergoes a dangerous, botched abortion and nearly loses her own life.

During an interview with the Daily Mail, Scherzinger said her family is “really hardcore” against abortion because her mother gave birth to her when she was just 18.

“My mum got pregnant with me when she was 17 and had me when she was 18,” Scherzinger said, adding, “Her parents were never going to let her have an abortion. So I came out, so I just want to, you know, encourage everybody to keep your babies.”

Scherzinger said when she was offered the role, she initially hesitated to accept it because of her views on abortion.

‘So I got the role and I almost didn’t take it because I didn’t want to promote abortion, because my character has an abortion,” she said. “‘But I was like, hopefully they can learn from, you know, her ways and I can be a positive influence.

Scherzinger said her decision was influenced by her grandfather, who is a preacher. He prayed about it and told her the role was what she was “meant to do.”

“We decided that maybe I could be a voice, that I could shed some light on the subject without being preachy,” Scherzinger said.

In addition to her role in “Dirty Dancing,” Scherzinger has sung for the Pussycat Dolls and Disney’s “Moana.” She has also been a judge for “The X Factor.”

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(H/T: Newsbusters)