UPDATE, with additional reactions: As Hollywood and New York wake up this morning to confirmation that Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States, the mood among many celebrities is one of deep disappointment, even despair.
Lexi Underwood, star of Little Fires Everywhere and Cruel Summer posted a swatch of data breaking down percentages by demographic, writing “Just so we’re clear… Black women & men, get some rest.”
Actress Viola Davis wrote “Thank you for your bravery @kamalaharris. Thank you for loving America’s promise. I am and will forever be proud.
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Jack White, a frequent Trump critic, wrote on Instagram, “Americans chose a known, obvious fascist and now America will get whatever this wannabe dictator wants to enact from here on in.”
The Motion Picture Association released a statement on the election results:
“The Motion Picture Association congratulates President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming 119th Congress on their electoral victories. We look forward to working with them on a wide range of important issues for the film, TV, and streaming industry, which supports more than 2.7 million American jobs, boosts more than 240,000 businesses in cities and small towns across the country, and delivers over $242 billion in wages to our workforce each year. We commend everyone who worked this year to ensure fair elections and preserve our nation’s legitimate democratic processes.”
“With deep admiration and profound respect I sincerely THANK YOU Madame Vice President @vp,” Grotesquerie star Niecy Nash posted on Instagram. “You have made us unbelievably proud! May we continue the fight carrying your wisdom, brilliance, determination, and joy in our hearts and mind.”
“It’s a war on women,” singer songwriter Billie Eilish wrote on her Instagram story.
UnPrisoned and Scandal star Kerry Washington, who posted a video about the Red Mirage last night ahead of the trickling in of votes, posted a carousel from @wetheurban and @blackliturgies encouraging viewers to rest.
“I have done all I can do,” writes General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn, whose X/Twitter postings have long been numerous and widely followed. “I will be deleting all my social media in protection of my daughter. I’m so sorry. May God help us all.”
Bette Midler, also a frequent social media poster and staunch opponent of Trump, seems to have deleted her X account after posting a quote from H.L. Mencken: “When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental — men whose whole thinking is done in terms of emotion, and whose dominant emotion is dread of what they cannot understand. So confronted, the candidate must either bark with the pack or be lost… All the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum. The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
Jeffrey Wright also decided to exit X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mia Farrow, the longtime actress, current Broadway performer and Kamala Harris supporter, tweeted a simple note – “Looks like he will win. God help us.” – above a photo of Vladimir Putin.
Christina Applegate wrote, “Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Don’t want followers like this. So yeah. Done. Also after today I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years because this is sick.”
Later, she sent a follow-up: “I apologize. I’m still reeling and sobbing. But I’m not angry anymore. Just going to go back to my bubble and watch a shit ton of Bravo shows. So peace to all. I suggest you do the same. Very soothing.
On Instagram, Jamie Lee Curtis posted a lengthy message (read it in its entirety below), predicting “a more restrictive, some fear draconian time. Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve. For all those people there will be those who will help you. Me included.
“But what it really means is that we wake up and fight. Fight for women and our children and their futures and fight against tyranny, one day at a time. One fight at a time. One protest at a time. That’s what it means to be an American. That’s what it has always meant and will always mean regardless of the outcome.
“Be gentle with people today. Be gentle with yourself today. Feel your feelings today but most of all…..Be an American today.”
Even before the results were in, many in Hollywood saw the writing on the wall, with actors, writers and celebrities from across the entertainment industry reacting to the stunning news that Trump will retake the White House, with many angry with the campaign the Democrats ran. Other were looking to the future with dread, with several decrying the future prospects for women’s rights under the new regime or predicting long-term changes to American society.
Oscar winner Adam McKay, who directed political send-up Vice, left a lengthy post slamming the Democrats approach to winning the race for Vice President Kamala Harris. “Who would have guessed lying about Biden’s cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldn’t be a winning strategy?” he wrote.
The Wire and Treme actor Wendell Pierce, who has consistently spoken in favor of Harris, wrote: “Elections have consequences. The Supreme Court will be changed for a generation. I’ll never see a moderate court again in my lifetime. Alito and Thomas will step down and Trump will appoint 40 year old partisans to the bench. The damage he is about to inflict on our institutions the next 2 years will be irreparable.”
He has since praised Harris, noting she had only 107 days to campaign, saying she was “pragmatic, deliberate, insightful, inspiring, and positive,” and added, “You were the epitome of a political scientist and your campaign left everything on the field.”
Pierce also wrote that “the blame game has begun” but that he would not allow Black, Arab American or Latino voters be made accountable for the defeat. In the lengthy message, he said white men and women had voted Trump into the White House, writing: “It’s clear that my neighbors, coworkers, and friends have no problem with a convicted felon, convicted rapist, racist, and misogynist leading their government. They share his values. People show you who they are.”
David Simon, writer of The Wire and Treme, and an outspoken critic of Trump and his supporters, warned the X platform would become “a rancid cesspool of lies and disinformation tonight and through the next several days,” before following up with a message suggesting his was a “dormant account under present management of this social media site.”
“God bless us all. Even the scrotes and shitheels,” he added.
Lili Reinhart, star of The CW drama Riverdale, wrote in solidarity with women who have accused the incoming Republic president of assault, saying her “heart absolutely breaks” for them. There is widespread concern in Democratic circles that abortion rights to be further diminished in a new Trump regime.
Applegate similarly questioned the future for women, writing on social media: “Why? Give me your reasons why????? My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why? And if you disagree , please unfollow me.”
Yvette Nicole Brown expressed her fury as Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown lost his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno, saying: “This is a disgrace at a level I can’t even qualify” and adding: “AmeriKKKa is showing out tonight. Just showing out.”
Andy Cohen, the Watch What Happens Live presenter who had campaigned for the Democrats’ losing St. Louis senate candidate Lucas Kunce, took a shot at those who claimed the election would be manipulated against Trump, writing on X: “so the election ISN’T rigged????”.
He has since engaged a Republican-supporting commentator who claimed “the rigging was defeated,” writing: “OHHHHH!! so if he lost, it would’ve been rigged?”
Jon Stewart tried to provide some perspective on The Daily Show, saying: “We’re going to come out of this election, we’re going to make all kinds of pronouncements of what this country is and what this world is, but the truth is we’re not really gonna know sh*t. We’re going to make it seem like this is the finality of our civilization, but we’re all going to have to wake up tomorrow morning and work like hell to move the world the world to the place that we prefer it.”
Stewart noted how the U.S. has rarely followed what pundits and commentators proclaim in the aftermath of elections and then added: “This isn’t the end, and we have to regroup and we have to continue to fight and continue to work day in and day out to create the better society for our children, for this world, for this country that we know is possible. It is possible.”
Philip Pullman, the British writer of the His Dark Material novels that were adapted for HBO and the BBC, wasn’t convinced, simply writing: “Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you.”
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