TORONTO — Celebrities are sharing their reactions to the mass shooting at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Nine people were killed Wednesday when a gunman opened fire inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. A 21-year-old has been arrested.
On The Daily Show, host Jon Stewart delivered a five-minute commentary instead of his usual jokes.
At the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame gala Thursday night in New York, country singer Toby Keith said stricter gun laws are not the answer.
“If it can happen in church, it can happen anywhere,” he told The Associated Press.
“Countries all over the world that have really strict gun policies, like Norway… It happens there.”
On Twitter, stars are expressing their shock and grief.
Some, like actor Rob Lowe and director Ava DuVernay, are taking aim at the media’s coverage of the shooting.
The media should be ashamed. 3 hours to get on air and then gives detailed suspect description WITHOUT mentioning his race. #Charleston
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) June 18, 2015
Look, I’d just like a consistent, FULL description (when clearly there is one) when a mass killer is on the loose. White, black or green.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) June 18, 2015
Interesting. The suspect is unknown and at large. But already he being discussed as mentally ill? Oh, okay. #CharlestonShooting — Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) June 18, 2015
if you work in media and don’t point out the rhetoric being used for this shooter, i fear you may be a big part of the problem. — Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) June 18, 2015
Actress Olivia Wilde called for better education.
It’s time to stop teaching about civil rights in history class, and instead make social justice a crucial focus of education. #StopTheHate — olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) June 18, 2015
If we keep pretending equality has been achieved, it never will be. Let’s teach kids how far we’ve come and how much work we have to do. — olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) June 18, 2015
Questlove of The Roots didn’t pull any punches.
Everyday People are losing their lives w/ the uncertainty of a Russian Roulette game. do any of you care? really care? #BlackLivesMatter
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) June 18, 2015
Wonder if the #transracial advocates of the past few days understands that being “black” means being a target. Still signing up?
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) June 18, 2015
Here’s a look at more tweets from celebrities:
What kind of inhuman monster goes into a church and kills people My deepest condolences to the citizens of Charleston May God comfort you
— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) June 18, 2015
Plane landed, turned on my phone, and my heart dropped to the floor. Charleston… This is an unbearable loss of lives and innocence.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 18, 2015
Charleston. My heart hurts.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) June 18, 2015
This is racially motivated domestic TERRORISM. Praying for Charleston w/ tears of disgust in my eyes. I AM DISGUSTED. 🙏🏽 #CharlestonShooting
— Keri Hilson (@KeriHilson) June 18, 2015
My heart is truly with you to the folks who lost loved ones Charleston. My heart is truly with you, world.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) June 18, 2015
Was already weary. Was already heavy hearted. Was already tired. Where can we be safe? Where can we be free? Where can we be black?
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) June 18, 2015
I’m praying #CharlestonShooting
— chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) June 18, 2015
My deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were senselessly killed last night in Charleston, SC. It’s heartbreaking!
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) June 18, 2015
I don’t even know what words to use about Charleston. I really don’t. Love and thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims
— Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) June 18, 2015
So so so exhausted by the jarring yet familiar feeling of turning on the news only to see yet another mass shooting. #Charleston #Everytown
— Rachel Dratch (@TheRealDratch) June 18, 2015
Emotional. Nine lives violently extinguished. Focusing my highest thoughts and donating directly to the church here: http://t.co/0kyZK8OHCm
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) June 18, 2015
Prayers for #Charleston
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) June 18, 2015
Prayers for the victims’ families & entire community of #Charleston. When will anything be done to put an end to this cycle of violence?
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) June 18, 2015
My heart absolutely breaks for everyone involved in the #CharlestonShooting #unbelievable
— LeAnn Rimes Cibrian (@leannrimes) June 18, 2015
What happened in Charleston is an act of terror committed by a terrorist. Simple & plain. I wish those folks in that church had been armed
— Killer Mike (@KillerMikeGTO) June 18, 2015
#Charleston, I love you. You’re in my thoughts tonight.
— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) June 18, 2015
Sending prayers to all of those touched by the horrific tragedy in Charleston…🙏🏻
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) June 18, 2015
Devastated for the congregation, the community and especially the families of those lost in Charleston tonight.
— Thomas Sadoski (@ThomasSadoski) June 18, 2015
Sending all my morning prayers to the people of the Emanuel AME Church and the residents of Charleston. Our hearts are heavy.
— IG: @UncleRUSH (@UncleRUSH) June 18, 2015
My heart is so broken by the senselessness of the Charleston shooting. Sending thoughts & prayers. Hatred cannot and will not prevail.
— Darren Criss (@DarrenCriss) June 18, 2015
Fear + Hate = Death What we witnessed was the work of a heartless savage. He sought defenseless Church members. The epitome of cowardice.
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) June 19, 2015
Horrible loss of innocent lives in Charleston. Senseless. Prayers for their families.
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) June 18, 2015
Woke up to the horrifying news of the shooting at the AME church in downtown Charleston. My thoughts & prayers are with all. Heartbreaking.
— Busy Philipps (@Busyphilipps25) June 18, 2015
Woke up here in London to the horrific news from Charleston. Sickening. Over 50 years since the Birmingham church bombing, and here we are.
— John Green (@johngreen) June 18, 2015
So saddened to hear the news from #SouthCarolina tonight… Sending so much love to #Charleston, and all affected 💔
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) June 18, 2015
Oh no. No no no. Charleston. My heart breaks and I’m praying for this community of souls. I’m so sad. 💔
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) June 18, 2015
This racist jackass got a .45 for his 21st birthday from his father and goes and shoots up elderly people in a church. This is rock bottom
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) June 18, 2015
I have no words… all I can say is to all the families and friends who lost someone, Charleston my heart goes out to you…
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) June 18, 2015
This Charleston shooting is disgusting. Whats going on world? Praying for all the friends and family involved in this awful tragedy.
— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) June 18, 2015
Please continue to pray for Charleston. Just because he is captured we still got to think of those affected.
— Michelle Williams (@RealMichelleW) June 18, 2015
I just read about the news in #Charleston . Oh my heart. Praying for these families and this community.
— Candace Cameron Bure (@candacecbure) June 18, 2015
My heart is so heavy upon hearing about this horrible act… My thoughts are with all the families involved. #CharlestonShooting
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) June 18, 2015
I am horrified & deeply saddened by this hateful violence. What a senseless tragedy. It’s just unthinkable. #CharlestonShooting
— The Real Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) June 18, 2015
I don’t know what to say. I am in utter shock. Thoughts and prayers to our community & those families affected by this horrible tragedy.
— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) June 18, 2015
Praying for Charleston. God be with those families and that community.
— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) June 18, 2015
Dear God, when will it stop? Pray for Charleston. #CharlestonShooting
— Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) June 18, 2015
Am I the only one who can’t shake the sadness, disgust and anger over the horror of the Charleston shooting?
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) June 19, 2015
Keeping our brothers and sisters at Emanuel AME church Charleston in our prayers. Insanity.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) June 18, 2015
Charleston and all the families involved with this horrible tragedy you are in my prayers.
— kevin jonas (@kevinjonas) June 18, 2015
Woke up to the horrid news. What can be said? Shooter doesn’t deserve our curiosity. Absolute terrorism. Charleston is in my heart today.
— josh groban (@joshgroban) June 18, 2015
My heart goes out to the victims and their families in Charleston. There are no words. #CharlestonShooting
— Elijah Wood (@woodelijah) June 18, 2015
We keep standing by, incident after incident These aren’t statistics, they’re people #humanlivesmatter
— Will Arnett™ (@arnettwill) June 18, 2015
Terrorism is violence performed in service to an agenda. Racism is an agenda. Leaving someone alive to tell the ‘message’ highlights this.
— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) June 18, 2015
Domestic terrorist TOLD us why he killed 9 innocent ppl IN CHURCH… simply because they were black! STOP MAKING EXCUSES 4 HIM!
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) June 18, 2015
Breaks my heart hearing about the #CharlestonShooting. My thoughts & prayers are with the victims & their families.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) June 18, 2015
My heart is with you Charleston.
— Hailee Steinfeld (@HaileeSteinfeld) June 18, 2015
Send prayers and love to Emanuel AME. Tragically heartbreaking.
— Don Cheadle (@IamDonCheadle) June 18, 2015
Words fail me as nine people lie dead in #Charleston, SC from gunshots in a church. So senseless. Who can explain such evil or madness?
— Larry King (@kingsthings) June 18, 2015
My heart aches ,its so tragic and I don’t understand? Shooting people in a church while praying? My prayers are with y’all in #Charleston
— Roma Downey (@RealRomaDowney) June 18, 2015
Sick of waking up and hearing more and more bad news. When will this stop?! #charleston #enough!
— Estelle (@EstelleDarlings) June 18, 2015
When twelve were victims of terrorism in France, we were all Charlie. When nine are killed in Charleston, who will we be?
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) June 18, 2015
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