Topics: Ellen DeGeneres, Immigration, Celebrity, US News
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres has made a rare political statement and weighed in on the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minneapolis.
The protests that followed the death of mom Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot while driving away from ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, have joined elected officials in calling on the federal agency to leave the state.
Late last night (January 19), President Donald Trump blasted protesters in Minneapolis for interrupting a church service to protest ICE's presence and demand 'justice for Renee Good', claiming that they were illegitimate, paid, and 'highly trained to scream, rant, and rave, like lunatics'.
But as anger in the Twin Cities continues unabated, former chat show host DeGeneres has backed the local residents, saying on Instagram: "I am so sorry for what is happening in Minneapolis and our country really, but specifically in Minneapolis right now because it's where I shot my last stand up special."
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DeGeneres said that 'everyone there could not have been more lovely,' when she was filming her 2024 Netflix special, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval.
"I shot it there because they say it's the happiest city in America," she added to the camera.
Her comments came on Sunday (January 18), just a day before the church protest that has caused US Attorney General Pam Bondi to threaten activists with the 'full force of federal law' for interrupting the service - which had an ICE official in attendance.
The 67-year-old former TV host showed solidarity with the protests in her supportive post, saying: "So my thoughts and my prayers are going out to everyone, and I’m proud of everyone who’s protesting peacefully."
She went on to say: "I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt just for protesting, for doing what you should be doing."
It is DeGeneres' most revealing post about Good's killing by ICE agent and military vet Ross, following her update the day before sharing a statement from the late mom's wife, Becca Good.
She kept her opinion short in that post, which showed a picture of Good with the simple caption: "I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried."
That was followed by the heart-rending tribute from Becca, which was originally shared with MPR News and reads: "If you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.
"Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.
"Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.
"We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.
"On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns."
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