Ahead of Donald Trump’s election victory over Kamala Harris, Ariana Grande took to her Instagram Story to address fans, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community Fans sent messages of support.
“Hold the hands of everyone who feels immeasurably heavy as a result of today’s outcome,” Grande wrote against a black background. “Yes, then?” The singer also shared a number of messages from the LGBTQ+ community. resource.
Grande’s words reflect her long-standing support for LGBTQ+ rights. On International Transgender Day of Awareness 2022, she pledged a donation of up to $1.5 million to the Protect and Defend Trans Youth Fund, benefiting 18 organizations that support trans youth.
Her activism also extends into reproductive rights, donating $250,000 to Planned Parenthood in 2019 and later joining the #BansOffOurBodies movement.
Grande has also participated in benefit concerts, such as a 2015 performance with Miley Cyrus for the Happy Hippie Foundation, supporting LGBTQ+ youth and at Pride in New York Festival (NYC Pride) 27th Annual Pier Ball to headline. Her efforts have provided funding to groups such as TKO Society, TENT and JASMYN.
Selena Gomez also joined the ranks of those reacting to Trump’s victory, taking to her Instagram Story to quote a cryptic quote written by feminist Audre Lorde. Powerful words: “I am not free when any woman is not free, even if her yoke is very different from my own.” Underneath this quote, Gomez added her own words: “Today I My heart is heavy.”
Grande and Gomez are just some of the many voices in Hollywood and the music industry responding to the election news.
Bette Midler shared a scathing quote from journalist H.L. Mencken, concluding: “Some great and glorious day, the ordinary people of this land will finally realize their heart’s desires, and the White House will be occupied by a Totally idiotic decoration.
Billie Eilish, an outspoken Harris supporter, expressed disappointment and called Trump’s return “a war on women.” Eilish is known for being an advocate for social issues, using her platform to speak out on reproductive rights, and there’s no doubt where she stands after this election result.
50 Cent, who has a particularly complicated relationship with Trump, posted a photo of himself with Trump with the caption: “I don’t care how the fight goes, I’ll walk away with the victor’s shit. I still don’t know what happened What’s up 🤦. Just recently, the “Candy Shop” rapper revealed that he turned down a major invitation to perform at a Trump rally.
As Trump’s lead grows, Cardi B, a public supporter of Harris, has been vocal about her frustration, saying, “We need a Hail Mary.” The next morning, she posted another post specifically aimed at Harris, saying, “No matter what they say to bring you down… they can never say you didn’t compete with honesty and integrity!”
She thanked Harris for being “a true example of the American dream.”
Other celebrities have similar feelings. Ethel Cain published a lengthy reflection criticizing “an embarrassing horde of white people” who she said aligned themselves with “the powers that be to incite hatred.” Her post concluded: “If you vote for [Trump]I hope peace never comes to you.
Outspoken Trump supporter Lil Pump shared a selfie wearing a Trump hat with the TV screen behind him, and Trump wrote: “They put him in jail and tried to assassinate him but he’s still here Here…a damn warrior MAGA.
With his victory, Trump became the oldest president to take office at the start of his term, the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland and the only person to win the White House on a felony conviction.