American Horror Story: 10 Most Controversial Moments

Abortion is a controversial topic however you look at it. In American Horror Story’s homeland, it’s single issue vote winner with evangelicals. And while it’s unlikely many evangelicals watched this episode, given the season featured demonic possession of a nun, this still caused a hell of a stir.

The show, perhaps anticipating the backlash, throws all the abortion arguments together. Lana’s pregnancy is a child of rape, carrying it is actively harming her and (obviously this one is unique to the show) is the devil’s spawn. She is truly desperate when she picks up the coat hanger.

Regardless of your political persuasion, watching a woman self-administer an abortion is awful viewing. Made so much worse by the knowledge that while a lot of Asylum’s most torturous treatment of patients is a thing of the past, for many poor women in countries where abortions are expensive, inaccessible or illegal, coat hanger abortion is still very real.

As with so much of AHS’ darkest moments, the camera doesn’t look away. Most tragically for Lana, it doesn’t even work and she’s put through all that pain for nothing.