
Over the weekend, celebrities who were silent about the ongoing unrest in the US spoke out.
Protests have erupted around the country against police brutality and violence as a result of the murder of George Floyd, a black man, in Minneapolis.
As the protests spread to more cities over the week, starting from Minneapolis and reaching New York, LA, DC, Atlanta and countries around the world, celebrities with power and influence stepped up to use their platforms to bring awareness to the situation.
Some of them decided to put their money where their mouth is and donate to various bail funds and organisations around the US, such as Chrissy Teigen and Seth Rogan.
In celebration of whatever the fuck maga night is, I am committed to donating $100,000 to the bail outs of protestors across the country.— chrissy teigen (@chrissy teigen) 1590874859
Ellen DeGeneres, who previously faced criticism after comparing lockdown to solitary confinement, posted a tweet saying that she was listening to what people had been saying and that “we needed to change”.
That tweet has since been deleted, as people criticised the tone of her message as well as the fact that she didn’t seem to have done anything meaningful.
In the tweet, she said: “Like so many of you, I am angry and I am sad. People of color in this country have faced injustice for far too long. For things to change, things must change. We must commit ourselves to this change with conviction and with love."
On Twitter, people pointed out that what she was saying was just PR talk.
@TheEllenShow 1) it’s black people 2) it’s not love if you just mean “sweetly imploring oppressed people to stop da… https://t.co/nfx4hfcJKK— Beth McColl (@Beth McColl) 1590917514
https://t.co/BOuSmvqHpq— jon (PERSECUTED) (@jon (PERSECUTED)) 1590963381
Other people also pointed out that Ellen said people of colour, as opposed to black people.
You forgot to say BLACK people. Oh, and open your purse. https://t.co/d1jUpr9YH6— DoctorJonPaul (They/Them/Tired)✊🏾🏳️🌈🎄 (@DoctorJonPaul (They/Them/Tired)✊🏾🏳️🌈🎄) 1590906809
Since then, Ellen has posted a revised tweet, as well as details of which organisations she was donating to.
I support the protestors who are exercising their rights and standing up against the horrible injustices that Black… https://t.co/lLmZ4wMgkZ— Ellen DeGeneres (@Ellen DeGeneres) 1590963491
I am making a donation to the George Floyd Memorial Fund, the @NAACP_LDF, @BlkLivesMatter, and the @ACLU in support… https://t.co/UdUeLMLuhd— Ellen DeGeneres (@Ellen DeGeneres) 1590963502
Better than nothing, although given her huge platform, people still wondered why she didn't go further if it was a cause she felt passionately about.
@TheEllenShow @NAACP_LDF @Blklivesmatter @ACLU Thank you for your donation however your voice of calm and reason wo… https://t.co/YAFncocqur— izyp (@izyp) 1590986011
@TheEllenShow @NAACP_LDF @Blklivesmatter @ACLU Ellen, we need you & others to demand real changes in the police & l… https://t.co/f4GWWjq2pK— GrAce🇹🇹🇺🇸 (@GrAce🇹🇹🇺🇸) 1590974372
Wonder what her good friend George W Bush has to say...?