By now, we have all heard of George Floyd and what happened to him. His murder in Minneapolis (in the United States) by Derek Chauvin, a police officer sparked massive protests—not just in the United States but all over the world, including London, Auckland, and Berlin.
Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The other three pollicers officers that were involved are Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas K. Lane. The infamous incident was filmed by bystanders on their smartphones. In a video posted on Facebook, George Floyd can be heard repeating “I can’t breathe”. Following his unfortunate death at the age of 46, all four police officers were fired.
At times like these, the African-American community in the United States need allies to support and stand with them. Allies include everyone else in the world, regardless of race, nationality, and sexuality. After all, #BlackLivesMatter does not mean that other lives don’t matter. In fact, the movement shines a light on why society needs to pay attention to what they have been experiencing for a long time.
While protests and calls for justice are still going on, influential voices and those with massive platforms have to do their parts. Celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Halsey, Timothée Chalamet, Tessa Thompson, Paris Jackson, Tinashe, Kehlani, Nick Cannon, and Cody Fern have joined the protests all over the United States. These are some of the celebrities that have spoken out against George Floyd’s death.
1. Jennifer Lopez
“How can anyone say they love this country and not do something when they see lives cut short because of the colour of their skin? We need to erase the fear and hatred that exists. Not erase people. We are all God’s children. We need to love and appreciate all the beautiful things that every individual person is. There are more of us who live a life of love and acceptance than those who live in rage and hate. Do not let the angry and hateful win! Say something. Do something. Let’s build bridges not burn them.
We have lost our way these past few years but we can find our way back. We need to speak up and speak love. Every chance we get. We need to storm the polls in November and vote. We need change! Something’s got to change!”
2. Oprah Winfrey
“I’ve been trying to process what can be said or heard in this moment. I haven’t been able to get the image of the knee on his neck out of my head. It’s there every morning when I rise and when I go through the ordinary duties of the day. While pouring coffee, lacing my shoes, and taking a breath, I think: He doesn’t get to do this. And now the video from the other angle of two other officers pinning him down. My heart sinks even deeper.
His family and friends say he was a gentle giant. His death has now shown us he had a giant soul. If the largeness of a soul is determined by its sphere of influence, George Floyd is a Mighty soul.
#GeorgeFloyd: We speak your name. But this time we will not let your name be just a hashtag. Your spirit is lifted by the cries of all of us who call for justice in your name”.
3. Beyoncé
“We need justice for George Floyd. We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We’re broken and we’re disgusted. We cannot normalise this pain. I’m not only speaking to people of colour. If you’re white, black, brown, or anything in between, I’m sure you feel hopeless about the racism going on in America right now. No more senseless killings of human beings. No more seeing people of colour as less than human. We can no longer look away”.
4. Harry Styles
“I do things every day without fear, because I am privileged, and I am privileged every day because I am white. Being not racist is not enough, we must be anti racist. Social change is enacted when a society mobilises. I stand in solidarity with all of those protesting. I’m donating to help post bail for arrested organisers. Look inwards, educate yourself and others.
Listen, read, share, donate, and vote. Enough is enough. Black lives matter”.
5. Demi Lovato
“This is not okay. And it will not stop until everyone does their part. Especially white people. I said it recently and I’ll say it again, do not let your discomfort surrounding social issues prevent you from speaking up for those in danger. And reality is, until this stops completely—the black community will continue to live in danger. Do your part. This involves you too.
#GeorgeFloyd, I hope you RIP because it isn’t fair so many didn’t do their part to ensure you lived in peace”.
6. Adam Lambert
“I’m scanning through the comments on this post and am appalled by the handful of ignorant, right wing, tone deaf comments that snowball into negative arguments. It’s one thing to have an opinion, but there are a few of you that are no longer welcome on my feed. To be clear: I’m not supporting violence and destruction. I am supporting the right to be enraged; to refuse to bow down. When it comes to matters of human rights, I refuse to support any opposition. Anyone that responds to black lives matter with all lives matter is an a**hole. You should know why that’s problematic by now. If you don’t, quit looking at my posts and educate yourself”.
7. Gigi Hadid
“Enraged. Sickened. Heartbroken. But never surprised. This happens way too often—and the videos that go viral are not isolated events. It seems that only when caught on camera are bigots and murderers even getting “investigated” or fired. Unfortunately, the only way things will start changing is if all these racist, ignorant monsters (badge and/or not) have to face the consequences behind bars and it’s not only an issue with black men being killed by cops. It’s an issue every time we see them being treated, in even non-violent situations, very clearly differently than many very-high-risk incidents involving white men; it’s an issue that the President is making dangerous public statements about enforcing the shooting of protesters—rightfully angered by another unneeded killing of another black person and demanding justice where it is 100 percent needed; while exactly 28 days earlier, he tweeted about white protesters, who stood armed with guns protesting a worldwide health pandemic as “very good people”, urging the Governor to “See them, talk to them, make a deal”.
Keep signing petitions, making calls to demand justice, speaking out (this is not just if you have a big platform—it starts in your homes and communities), and fighting to make a difference for every life that has been wrongly taken or effected by the pandemic of racism. This is about being against every senseless act of discrimination that burdens this country”.
8. Bella Hadid
“I’m sure all of you feel the same way but my sadness has viciously turned into anger. This will not be overlooked! Swipe for some truth. Text FLOYD to 55156 so not just one, but all four officers that took part in this murder will have to own up to their actions and be taken to jail for life. The fact that they could have stood there and watched is disgusting and in my eyes, just as bad. If you are able, please join me in donating to help the family of George Floyd with The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund”.
9. Kim Kardashian
“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 colour of my skin has often left me feeling like this is not a fight that I can truly take on 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”.
10. Ciara
11. Billie Eilish
“We have to address hundreds of years of oppression of black people. The slogan of #BlackLivesMatter does not mean other lives don’t. It’s calling attention to the fact that society clearly thinks black lives don’t f**king matter. And they f**king do. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Say it again. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd”.
12. Lizzo
“Protest is not the end of progress, it is the beginning. I wonder what would happen if all the big companies and celebrities who have showed support on social media came out and used their platform to let activists and protesters speak and be seen? I wonder what would happen if we allowed the outrage to have positive influence in our local government? What would happen if those in power defunded the police and dismantled their racist culture and corrupt power structures? Cities are burning, are you watching? I stand with Minneapolis. I believe in us. Change is gonna come. #blacklivesmatter”.
13. Gwyneth Paltrow
“If you feel compelled to comment “all lives matter” in response to this post and you’re not a bot (which you probably are), nor an agent provocateur trying to create instability and division in our country, you might want to consider that you are reacting from a blind spot of white privilege. Saying “all lives matter” is a denial of how dangerous it is to simply live as a black person in America. “All lives” do not live in fear of getting killed simply because of the colour of their skin. #BlackLivesMatter”.
14. Tracee Ellis Ross
“There are so many feelings surging around in my head and my heart right now. Like all of us, I am grieving and heartbroken, sad, outraged and trying to take right action.
I recognise the power of my platform, but also the limits of my knowledge so I am mindful of what I say, how I speak and what I post. I always want to be helpful, effective and supportive, if I can be.
What is clear is that systems and hearts must change. I want justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and so many others and for that to happen, we must all take part. Diversity of approach, thought, and resources is what I believe is required in these difficult, scary, and hard times. Everyone must show up in their own most effective way. I am finding mine.
As always, I love us. I love my people. I know our beauty and our power and I want us to be safe, I want our bodies to be safe and I want us to be free and to be treated with the dignity that we deserve. Please donate to @blklivesmatter”.
15. Jessica Biel
“The past few weeks have been heartbreaking… mostly because the racism and blatant injustices we’ve seen lately have happened many times before. We have allowed inequality to be part of America for too long—and it has never been acceptable. As allies, we have to do more. While the obvious and understandable reaction is to be angry, and to fight back with hate—we also need to remember we are most powerful together. Please speak up. We want everyone to live freely and peacefully. This hatred we are seeing is a result of a deep systemic problem, but we are not powerless”.
16. Celine Dion
“It’s hard to find the words… the tragedy, the injustice breaks my heart. I can’t even begin to imagine what George Floyd’s family is going through. As so many have already said, it’s not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist. Change is long overdue. Racism and brutality must end. It’s everyone’s problem, everyone’s fight. And I pray that together we can find peace”.
17. Rihanna
“For the last few days, the magnitude of devastation, anger, sadness I’ve felt has been overwhelming to say the least! Watching my people get murdered and lynched day after day pushed me to a heavy place in my heart! To the point of staying away from socials, just to avoid hearing the blood curdling agony in George Floyd’s voice again, begging over and over for his life! The look of enticement, the pure joy and climax on the face of this bigot, murderer, thug, pig, b*m, Derek Chauvin, haunts me! I can’t shake this! I can’t get over an ambulance pulling up to an arrest, a paramedic checking a pulse without removing the very thing that’s hindering it! Is this that f**king normal? If intentional murder is the fit consequence for “drugs” or “resisting arrest”, then what’s the fit consequence for murder?”.
18. Khloe Kardashian
“Like so many of you I am angry, heartbroken and disgusted by the murder of George Floyd. We have seen this too many times. Black people have been discriminated against, victimised, and murdered for too long, and have shown superhuman resiliency in the face of constant adversity. It is incomprehensible to me that it’s 2020 and people continue to restrict, stereotype, damage, and oppress people of colour, and that racism is a constant reality”.
19. Dwayne Johnson
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