Watch the Shocking Scene From ABC's 'Scandal' That's Being Lambasted as 'Stomach Churning’ — and Listen for Song Playing in Background

ABC's "Scandal" is coming under fire over a scene that seemingly featured the show's main character undergoing an abortion, as the popular Christmas hymn "Silent Night" played in the background.

It was at the midway point in Thursday night's episode, titled, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," that Olivia Pope, played by actress Kerry Washington, "was escorted into a private medical room and then underwent an apparent abortion," according to TV Line.

The scene left Newsbusters' Alexa Moutevelis Coombs accusing the show of crossing "a sickening line."

"The entire hour was an advertisement for Planned Parenthood, but the absolute worst scene was a montage set to the Christmas hymn 'Silent Night,' a song that celebrates the birth of Christ, while main character Olivia Pope ... has an abortion, killing her and the president's baby," Coombs wrote.

She went on to describe the spectacle as "a truly vile" and a "stomach churning scene."

Watch the scene in question below:

Following the apparent abortion scene, Pope is apparently seen staring at her Christmas tree, while drinking wine and smiling, as "Ave Maria" plays in the background.

In the early hours of Friday morning after the episode aired, Washington tweeted the #IStandWithPlannedParenthood hashtag.

#IStandWithMellie #IStandWithPlannedParenthood

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington)

November 20, 2015

We'll leave you with some of the reactions floating around Twitter:

I'm just confused about the "pregnancy" the "abortion". Was it Fitz's child? Did she really have an abortion? Was it necessary? #Scandal

— Ana Ships Olitz㋡ (@The_Girl971) November 20, 2015

Wow, powerful #Scandal episode tonight. First time in decades a main character on TV has actually had an abortion https://t.co/fi6xUgtZPL

— Sarah Warn (@sarahwarn) November 20, 2015

SICK! ABC's 'Scandal' Sets Main Character's Abortion to 'Silent Night' https://t.co/ADe7GnIsfI

— Tabitha Bliss (@BlissTabitha) November 20, 2015

Please Shonda has pushed abortion on every one of her shows. Nothing new. #Scandal

— Amy (@AmyOtto8) November 20, 2015

abortion and "Ave Maria" ... if they were going for a disturbing, perverse combination on Scandal ...

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) November 20, 2015

I appreciate #scandal showing how some women walk away from an abortion, knowing they’ve made the right decision, just fine.

— him downstairs (@KiaJD) November 20, 2015

Abortion is health care. Women don't just get abortions for medical reasons. Women get them for emotional reasons. #standwithPP #Scandal

— #FeministBuckeye (@bschopis) November 20, 2015

Olivia getting an abortion. I am so emotional right now. #Scandal #IStandWithPlannedParenthood

— Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) November 20, 2015

Scandal is the perfect name for a show this perverse The devil is bold in the culture, we must be more so https://t.co/nuPbnNUdUb#Catholic

— Michael Petkosek (@MichaelPetkosek) November 20, 2015

#Scandal Who plays "silent night" to an abortion scene @ScandalABC disgusting choice the show is

— Sherrie (@olitzlover) November 20, 2015

(H/T: Newsbusters)

--

Follow the author of this story on Twitter and Facebook:

Follow @BillyHallowell