Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Khloe Kardashian, and many stars took to social media to speak about the video of George Flyod’s tragic death. Ariana Grande, Halsey were some of the celebrities who participated in the protests. Concerned celebrities also contributed around $100k for the bail of several protestors.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
Kanye West has created a college fund for George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd. He has also contributed around $2 million to different charities-including various Black-owned companies- related to the death of George Floyd. He also separately offered funds to cover the legal costs to the families of Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Arbery-who were also a victim of this injustice.
Kim Kardashian West, posted on Twitter saying: “For years, with every horrific murder of an innocent black man, woman, or child, I have always tried to find the right words to express my condolences and outrage but the privilege I am afforded by the color of my skin has often left me feeling like this is not a fight that I can truly take on as my own. Not today, not anymore. Like so many of you, I am angry. I am more than angry. I am infuriated and I am disgusted.” She also said that various brands under her would also be “donating across organizations focused on making change and fighting racial injustice.”
The stars of NBC’s cop comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” have donated $100,000 to the National Bail Fund Network in solidarity with the protests. Chrissy Teigen also pledged to donate $200,000 to bail out protestors while others like Halsey, Jamie Fox have joined the protests on the streets.
Halsey
Halsey- who actively participated in the protests- have spoken out about how it was like protesting on the streets. She took to her Instagram account and wrote: “It’s easy from the comfort of your home to watch looting and rioting on television and condone the violent measures being taken by forces. But what you don’t see is innocent peaceful protestors being shot at and teargassed and physically assaulted relentlessly. You think it’s not happening, it’s only the ‘thugs’ and the ‘riots,’ right? The police are keeping you safe right? You’re wrong.”
Further sharing her protesting experience she wrote: “This is happening everywhere. And innocent people exercising their rights to speech and assembly are facing violence and abuse of power. With all of our medical professionals being CONSUMED and EXHAUSTED with COVID, there is little to no medical attention available. I have firsthand treated men, women, and children who have been shot in the chest, the face, the back. Some will lose vision, some have lost fingers. I have been covered in innocent blood. My father is a black man. My mother is an EMT. This week I had to put those two associations together in ways that have horrified me. This is NOT a virtue-signaling post. But I HAVE to show you what I am witnessing with my own eyes. With Trump’s decision today to enforce the mobilization of armed forces on our own citizens, this has escalated beyond your privilege and comfort to not care. Please care. We are begging you to care. This is a war on Americans. This is everyone’s problem. Everyones. #BLACKLIVESMATTER.”
Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas took to Twitter and Instagram as well and wrote: “@priyankachopra & I have heavy hearts … The reality of the inequalities in this country, and around the world, are glaring. Systemic racism, bigotry, and exclusion have gone on for far too long, and remaining silent not only reinforces it, but it allows it to continue.
The time to take action is NOW. It’s no longer enough to say “I’m not racist”. We must all do the work to be ANTI racist and stand with the black community.
In our first step towards our continued efforts to help fight this fight, Pri and I have donated to the @eji_org & @aclu_nationwide.
We stand with you and we love you. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd”
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
While Priyanka Chopra Jonas got a lot of backlash from her fans after she took to her Instagram account and wrote: “End this race war here in the US, and around the world. Wherever you live and whatever your circumstances, NO ONE deserves to die, especially at the hands of another because of their skin colour.” But Twitter and Instagram lashed out on her and called her out for ‘selective activism’ and also because she endorses skin-lightening creams. Twitter wrote that casteism is also a big issue in India but she never spoke about that (referring to the recent protests held in India).
The entertainment industry also observed #blackouttuesday in support of the protests on social media, showing solidarity. Celebrities including Gal Gadot, Lili Reinhart, Elton John, Katy Perry, Rihanna and many other who posted a black picture on the photo sharing platform.
Meghan Markle has also spoken about the events while she was giving a graduation speech to the class of 2020 saying, “I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that I wouldn’t or that it would get picked apart and I realized that the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing.”
YouTubers
YouTubers like Shane Dawson, Logan Paul, Jake Paul, and many others have spoken about this. Shane Dawson encouraged his followers to donate and sign petitions regarding racial injustice. He also shared a YouTube playlist for people who cannot afford to donate money but they can afford to donate time to watch the videos. Meanwhile, Jake Paul has been charged in connection with the looting vandalism of an Arizona Mall during the protests however, Jake Paul wrote on Twitter that, “Neither I nor anyone in our group was involved in any looting or vandalism,” “We filmed everything we saw in an effort to share our experience and bring more attention to the anger felt in every neighborhood we traveled through,” Jake wrote.
Many other celebrities like Tessa Thompson, Jamie King, Paris Jackson, Emily Ratajkowski, Machine Gun Kelly, Matt McGorry, Timothee Chalamet, etc have come forward to support the protests during this time.
Story by: Christy Mathew
