Planned Parenthood’s attempt to fight back against calls to end federal funding for the abortion provider doesn’t seem to be winning a lot of fans online.

The new “Watch. Share. Slay.” campaign features a new video produced by action film director Jos Whedon, who is best known for superhero shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Avengers.”

“If there’s anything we’ve learned from Joss Whedon … over the years, it’s this … every single one of us has a hero inside; and it’s our responsibility to use our superpowers to slay,” Planned Parenthood posted to its website.

“Planned Parenthood and the 2.5 million people our health centers serve every year could use a lot more superheros right now,” the site reads. “So, Joss Whedon used his superpower: he made a powerful and chilling short film UNLOCKED, about what people’s lives could look like without Planned Parenthood. Did we say it was chilling? Yeah. Very.”

Of course, the irony of Planned Parenthood’s choice of words – “hero inside,” and “use our superpowers to slay” – in describing “Unlocked” did not go unnoticed online.

“.@PPact couldn’t come up with better wording than this?! ‘our responsibility to use our superpowers to slay.’ #PPslaybabies #defundPP,” Students for Life posted to Twitter, along with a copy of the description.

“Wouldn’t that mean that every single pregnant mother has a potential ‘hero inside?’ #UnbornLivesMatter #ProLife,” Dan Borchers added.



The “Unlocked” video centers on three women: one who’s dying of cancer, a pregnant teen preparing for college, and high-schooler with a sexually transmitted disease.

The video is shot in reverse to show how the women found themselves in their unbearable situations after a local Planned Parenthood clinic is shut down. The video is intended to illustrate that the woman with cancer would have received preventative treatment, the college hopeful would not have become pregnant with birth control, and the high-schooler could have avoided the STD with peer sex education – services offered at the abortion clinic.

Whedon, who has been trolled online in the past over his rape jokes featuring House Speaker Paul Ryan and mocking of teen cancer survivors, took to Twitter to promote his latest work, Twitchy reports.

“Planned Parenthood has been around for 100 years,” he wrote. “Here’s to fighting for the next 100. Or even not having to. #StandWithPP.”

The response wasn’t exactly rave reviews.

“I didn’t think it was possible to make a film more nonsensical than ‘Age of Ultron,’ but you succeeded. Congrats!” Tony G wrote, referring to Whedon’s latest Avengers flick.

“You picked supporting the nation’s largest abortion provider over starting on a second season of Firefly?” Chris Gast wrote. “That’s a tub of stuff right there.”

“@joss Oh, cool, now show reverse footage of an unborn child being ripped limb from limb,” Christian Ledford added.

“@Joss PP didn’t receive federal funding until 1970 – Nixon. Which means it survived just fine without it for over 50 years,” Rev. Mauldin wrote.

“Just remember kids, women are weak and can’t go to college and have a baby,” Nathan Tinsley posted. “The all knowing Hollywood director, @joss, says so. #usuckjoss.”

And the criticism has been relentless.

“There are hundreds of great causes,” Jimmy Goebel posted. “Most of them aren’t controversial and they don’t require federal funding. Let PP raise its own money.”

“@joss So, if Planned Parenthood’s supporters were more generous, then PP wouldn’t have to lock its doors permanently? #DefundPP,” the American Life League posted.

“@joss So in your fantasy world, hospitals, walk-in clinics, and the public health department don’t exist? Only Planned Parenthood, apparently.”