As part of our continuing coverage of the Orlando shooting, we’ve been looking all over for different points of view about it to help buoy us all. One interesting thread is that it seems that even non-political late-night comedians are calling for gun reform. We thought we’d take a look at some of our favorite celebrities’ reactions to the shooting.
Conan O’Brien
In his opening monologue this Monday, a visibly shaken Conan O’Brien opened his show by addressing the shooting. He said:
I am not a pundit, I am not an expert and I have always, always made it my policy to stick to my job and keep my opinions to myself. I have really tried very hard over the years not to bore you with what I think. However, I am a father of two. I like to believe I have a shred of common sense, and I simply do not understand why anybody in this country is allowed to purchase and own a semi-automatic assault rifle. It makes no sense to me. These are weapons of war, and they have no place in civilian life. I have tried to understand this issue from every side and it all comes down to this. Nobody I know or have ever met in my entire life should have access to a weapon that can kill so many people so quickly. These mass shootings are happening so often now that lamenting them afterwards has become a national ritual.
Samantha Bee
While Conan’s demeanor was quiet, sad and stern, his TBS compatriot, Samantha Bee of Full Frontal was enraged. She devoted the entire episode to Orlando, and her first, longest segment of Monday’s show was about the shooting. She mirrored Conan’s statements that lamenting a shooting is just what you do now — but then she shocked her audience by saying “Fuck it. I am too angry for that. Love does not win unless we start loving each other enough to fix our fucking problems… is it okay if instead of making jokes, I just scream for seven minutes before we go to commercial?”
She does make jokes — and they’re vicious. She calls out all aspects of our gun culture, including Gov. Rick Perry’s statement that all we can do is pray — “Wait a minute, we pray after every mass shooting, and yet they keep happening. Maybe we’re not praying right? Can we check the instruction manual?” And then she quotes James 2:17: “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Janelle Monáe
HURT & OUTRAGED over the #Orlando HATE Killings against the brave human beings who loved & appreciated themselves for who they were. #LGBTQ
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) June 12, 2016
HATE for a group of people is learned. Things can be unlearned. This is our task this generation. Unlearn the hate. It is rooted in lies.
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) June 12, 2016
While singer Janelle Monáe doesn’t have a late night talk show, she’s been active on her Twitter and Instagram feed. Not only did she dedicate her her Sunday night show at the Hollywood Bowl to the LGBTQ community, she’s been posting and retweeting lots about how to help:
As well as information on gun reform:
Americans make up about 4.43 percent of the world's population, yet own roughly 42 percent of all the world's privately held firearms.
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) June 13, 2016
Not just that, but she’s also called out the ban on LGBTQ giving blood:
My point exactly. They have tests now that see who is infected. No reason at all to continue such ignorance. https://t.co/RrjuR5gcJh
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) June 12, 2016
The Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race
Michelle Visage and the other queens on the touring show, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons performed “Take a Bow” on Monday night in Minneapolis to show their grief. These weren’t the only queens from the show that commented on the tragedy. Roxxxy Andrews, a finalist from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 5, posted to her Instagram that the Pulse club where the shooting took place was where she started out. Kenya Michaels, a trans woman who competed in Season 4 was actually at Pulse when the shooting happened, but thankfully escaped — but her best friend and dancer, Leroy Valentin was one of the victims. Likewise, Season 1’s Jade’s cousin, Eddie Sotomayor Jr. was one of the murdered.
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert’s response is one of the more succinct on our list — but a good place to end. As he reminds us, “love is a verb — and to love means to do something.” Let’s take his advice. Let’s do something — campaign to change gun laws, campaign to remove the blood ban, go out and live and love and dance. Even if it’s just telling your friends and your family you love them — do something.
Make the world a better place.
End hate.
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