During his evening show on CNN this past weekend, Don Lemon called out celebrities — especially black celebrities, for being “strangely quiet” during the protests over George Floyd's death. He said, “What about Hollywood? Strangely quiet…” He continued, “Why aren’t they helping these young people? These young people are out there standing on a platform at the edge of an abyss by themselves. . . . Yes, I’m calling you out. You can be mad at me all you want.”
He added, “Get on television, or do something and help these young people instead of sitting in your mansions and doing nothing. Have some moral courage and stop worrying about your reputation and your brand.”
He then called out a few celebs by name, saying, “Young people need to see people who have made it. So they can understand they can make it too, so they can know publicly that you have their backs…If they say you out there, then they know, there’s that person like me. There’s that Oprah like me, there’s that Jay-Z like me, there’s that Colin Kaepernick who is like me, who is on television because of the knee, and now it is all coming full circle…” He also mentioned Traci Ellis Ross, Kim Kardashian and Tyler Perry.
COLIN KAEPERNICK STARTS LEGAL DEFENSE FOR ARRESTED PROTESTORS
Speaking of Colin Kaepernick, he announced this past weekend that he started a legal defense initiative for people who were arrested in Minnesota so he could help them. He tweeted, “In fighting for liberation there‘s always retaliation. We must protect our Freedom Fighters. We started a legal defense initiative to give legal representation to Freedom Fighters in Minneapolis paid for by @yourrightscamp For representation or to donate.”
J. R SMITH SPOTTED BEATING UP MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY VANDALIZED HIS CAR DURING PROTESTS
In other news, J.R. Smith spoke out after footage of him involved in a physical altercation went viral. Smith was spotted kicking and punching a man out on the street in Los Angeles.
In a video, Smith explained that person broke the window of his truck. He explained, “I just want you all to know right now, before you all see this s— somewhere else. One of these little motherf*cking white boys didn’t know where he was going and broke my f*cking window in my truck. Broke my sh*t. This was a residential area. No stores over here. None of that s—. Broke my window, I chased him down and whooped his ass.
MORE CELEBRITY REACTIONS TO GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH
Barack Obama: “This shouldn’t be 'normal' in 2020 America. It can’t be 'normal,' if we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideal, we can and must be better.”
Michelle Obama: “Like so many of you, I’m pained by these recent tragedies. And I’m exhausted by a heartbreak that never seems to stop. Right now it’s George, Breonna, and Ahmaud. Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on. Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with.” She continued,, “But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out.”
Michael Jordan: “I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry. I see and feel everyone’s pain, outrage and frustration. I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough.”
Vanessa Bryant posted a picture of Kobe wearing an “I Can't Breathe” t-shirt, and captioned it, “My husband wore this shirt years ago and yet here we are again.💔#ICANTBREATHE. Life is so fragile. Life is so unpredictable. Life is too short. Let’s share and embrace the beautiful qualities and similarities we all share as people. Drive out hate. Teach respect and love for all at home and school. Spread LOVE. Fight for change- register to VOTE. Do not use innocent lives lost as an excuse to loot. BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE. #BLACKLIVESMATTER ❤️.”
Don Lemon calls out Hollywood :