Comedian Ellen DeGeneres recently broke her silence on a political matter by commenting on the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minneapolis.
These protests erupted following the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good, a mother who was shot while attempting to drive away from an ICE agent. The incident has prompted local officials to urge the federal agency to withdraw from the state.
In response to the ongoing protests, President Donald Trump criticized those in Minneapolis who disrupted a church service to demand ‘justice for Renee Good.’ He labeled the protesters as paid and ‘highly trained to scream, rant, and rave, like lunatics.’
Amidst the turmoil in the Twin Cities, Ellen DeGeneres has expressed her support for the local community via Instagram, stating: “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.”
While filming her 2024 Netflix special, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, DeGeneres remarked that ‘everyone there could not have been more lovely.’
She explained her choice of location by saying, “I shot it there because they say it’s the happiest city in America.”
DeGeneres made these remarks on Sunday, just before the church protest that led US Attorney General Pam Bondi to warn activists of severe legal consequences for disrupting the service, which included an ICE official.
In her supportive Instagram post, the 67-year-old former talk show host expressed her solidarity with the protests, saying: “So my thoughts and my prayers are going out to everyone, and I’m proud of everyone who’s protesting peacefully.”
She continued, “I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt just for protesting, for doing what you should be doing.”
This message marks DeGeneres’ most explicit statement regarding the killing of Renee Good by ICE agent and military veteran Jonathan Ross, following a previous post where she shared a message from Renee’s wife, Becca Good.
In that earlier post, DeGeneres conveyed her emotions succinctly, captioning a photo of Renee with: “I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried.”
The post included a heartfelt tribute from Becca, stating: “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.”