ADVERTISEMENT

Celebrities react to US President's 'un-American' immigration ban

Many celebrities used those platforms and the protests to voice their opposition to Trump's ban.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus speaking at the SAG Awards.

As protests were held at airports and major US landmarks all over the country, Hollywood was throwing two of its biggest awards events of the year: the Sundance Film Festival awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Many celebrities used those platforms and the protests to voice their opposition to Trump's ban.

ADVERTISEMENT

The immigration ban — which is being challenged as unconstitutional and called racist and a "Muslim ban" by critics –

Here's what they had to say:

Seth Rogen

ADVERTISEMENT

Seth Rogen used his powerful presence on social media to spread the word of a protest in Los Angeles on Sunday and spoke about his own immigrant roots.

Simon Helberg

CBS's "The Big Bang Theory"

Taraji P. Henson

Dev Patel

ADVERTISEMENT

"I thought I had walked into a nightmare," "Lion" star Dev Patel told USA Today of the ban. "Of course, the first thought in my head was women and children turning up to these shores with so much hope in their eyes being turned away. I can't imagine the pain they must be going through and for those families that are being separated, that voice of negativity and divisiveness at times like this. It's terrifying. What gives me hope is all the people out there, those courageous human beings in the streets, in the airports, trying to spread positivity at least.”

Sarah Paulson

While accepting the her SAG Award for FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson," Paulson asked for donations to the American Civil Liberties Union, which is actively fighting Trump's travel ban in courts.

“It wasn’t a tough decision to come up with what I wanted to say. I am not an immigrant. I was born here,” she said to press after her call to donate to the ACLU. “So in terms of how I can speak about it from a personal standpoint from my youth or something, [that] wasn’t available to me, so I just wanted to have an opportunity to mention the inclusivity that I think is required right now in general, and the ACLU to me represents that across the board. And they do really rely on funds from people like you and me at this time.”

Ashton Kutcher

ADVERTISEMENT

“I amcitizen of the world,” Kutcher said at the SAG Awards.

He later continued, “Everyone in airports that belong in my America. You are a part of the fabric of who we are, and we love you, and we welcome you.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Mahershala Ali

Taylor Schilling

ADVERTISEMENT

David K. Harbour

"Stranger Things" star David K. Harbour delivered a passionate speech while accepting the show's cast SAG Award.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

10 African countries that waste the most food in 2024

10 African countries that waste the most food in 2024

US troop withdrawal from Niger hangs in the balance

US troop withdrawal from Niger hangs in the balance

Detained Binance executives sue Nigerian authorities for human right violation

Detained Binance executives sue Nigerian authorities for human right violation

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Exploring the popularity of progressive jackpot slots in Indonesia

Exploring the popularity of progressive jackpot slots in Indonesia

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

ADVERTISEMENT