“Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you”
Celebrities and social media users share their fears, disappointment and funny takes on yesterday’s election results.
ADVERTISEMENTDonald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris has sent shock waves throughout the world, with celebrities sharing their disappointmentand social media users reacting with anger and disbelief.
Here are some of the most notable, scary and at times bleakly funny reactions:
UK TV’s Countdown dictionary queen and renowned lexicographer Susie Dent shared her word of the day on X yesterday and nailed the mood: “Word of the day is ‘recrudescence’ (17th century): the return of something terrible after a time of reprieve.”
Star Wars actor and vocal Trump critic Mark Hamill solemnly posted: “They say we get the leaders we deserve. Either that has just been disproven, or this is not the America we all thought we were living in.”
On Instagram, Jamie Lee Curtis posted a lengthy message, predicting “a more restrictive, some fear draconian time.”
“Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve. For all those people there will be those who will help you. Me included.”
“It’s a war on women,” singer Billie Eilish wrote on her Instagram story, while film director and son of David Bowie, Duncan Jones, posted that he was feeling “very Brexity” while expressing pessimism over the millions who voted for Trump: “I think we may have overestimated the goodness in people.”
Jack White, a frequent Trump critic, wrote: “Americans chose a known, obvious fascist and now America will get whatever this wannabe dictator wants to enact from here on in.”
Renowned author Philip Pullman went with “Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you.”, while Stephen King wrote: “There’s a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN IT’S SOLD. You can say the same about democracy.”
Band members of Lambrini Girls also discussed Trump’s victory and wrote: “GM. We are all totally fucked. The fact that society would rather a rapist run one of the worlds superpowers opposed to a woman is testament to that in itself. Fascism is here and it’s crucial to engage politically, now more than ever. Where’s Guy Fawkes when you need him.”
The singers also shared an Instagram post sharing: “Fascism wins every time in America. Neither party is standing up for us. If that be in the US or here in the UK. We are far from immune from the ramifications of this.”
Actor John Cusack wrote “The fact that the country would choose to destroy itself by voting in a convicted felon rapist and Nazi is a sign of deep nihilism. To put it mildly”, while Donald Trump’s estranged niece Mary L Trump, who is an outspoken critic of her uncle, posted a message which seemed to sum up the thoughts of disappointed voters: “I am so deeply sorry. I thought better of us.”
Perhaps the biggest celebrity posted the following: « Goodbye, America. Never speak to Me again. »
Elsewhere online, social media users were also sharing their reactions.
One claimed: « If you think that this is ANYTHING other than misogyny at play you’re lying to yourself. »
ADVERTISEMENTAnother posted a meme of « how it feels watching American elections these days » as a Canadian with the two options being ‘Everyone gets a puppy’ and ‘Diarrhoea forever’.
One user posted an image of the January 6 riots and wrote: « It’s unbelievable that this wasn’t the end for him. »
Another posted a satirical take on how America voted:
« Being British is wanting to move to America as a child then thinking ‘fuck that’ as an adult, » one posted.
ADVERTISEMENTAnother shared a tweet of a « devastating indictment » of America:
To cap things off on a mildly more uplifting note, let’s circle back to the celebrities with electro artist Moby, who shared some advice for his followers after Trump was reelected:
“It’s not going to benefit anybody to doomscroll and watch the news and constantly just spiral down into depression… So it might sound like a new age cliché, but we have to practice self care, we have to eat well and exercise and spend time with people we love and help animals and do anything that keeps us sane and healthy.”
