TORONTO — Fresh from a weekend visit to Toronto to promote the new NKOTB album, singer-actor Joey McIntyre ran the Boston Marathon on Monday — and missed the deadly explosions by minutes.
“There was an explosion by the finish line about 5 minutes after I finished,” McIntyre tweeted. “I’m ok but I’m sure there are many hurt.”
Later, the 40-year-old star added: “I don’t know what to say. I feel for everybody involved with the Boston Marathon. My family is ok. I am ok. Gonna take a while to process.”
McIntyre’s bandmate, Donnie Wahlberg, tweeted: “No words to describe the pain in my heart, at this moment, in seeing my city torn apart this way. So sad. Please #pray4boston & the victims.”
Actress Kate Bosworth, who was raised partly in Massachusetts, tweeted: “Boston, you have been a great home to me. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Other celebrities with roots in Boston took to social media to express their shock and grief.
Actor-producer Mark Wahlberg tweeted: “Thoughts and prayers with my hometown Boston today.”
Ben Affleck posted: “Such a senseless and tragic day. My family and I send our love to our beloved and resilient Boston.”
Actor John Kraskinski, born in Newton, Massachusetts, tweeted: “My heart and prayers are in Boston and with everyone affected by this nightmare of an incident.”
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Model Gisele Bundchen, who is married to New England Patriots player Tom Brady, offered “My thoughts and prayers to everyone in Boston” via Twitter.
Avengers star Chris Evans of Sudbury, Mass. tweeted: “Thoughts and prayers are with everybody in boston. heartbreaking…”
Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron, a native of Massachusetts, said: “In contact with family members in Boston near Marathon site. All OK. Thoughts are with everyone touched by this nightmare.”
“My prayers with everyone in Boston right now after this atrocious act of violence!,” tweeted comedian Dane Cook, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Also from Cambridge, actress Mindy Kaling posted: “My heart aches for my hometown.
TV host and Medford, Mass. native Maria Menounos tweeted: “keep getting overwhelmed w/tears. the photos are devastating. god bless those affected & our first responders. love u boston my heart is w/ u all.”
Dozens of celebrities shared their thoughts on Twitter following the explosions, including Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Debra Messing, Pink, One Direction’s Harry Styles, Ellen DeGeneres Eva Longoria, Kevin Jonas and Ricky Martin.
“Saying prayers for those hurt in the #Boston Marathon explosions,” said Rob Mariano, best known as Boston Rob.
“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the city of Boston and all of those affected by this terrible incident,” wrote Justin Timberlake.
Justin Bieber tweeted simply “#PrayForBoston” to his 37.6 million followers.
Lindsay Lohan posted: “Sending prayers to everyone who was/is at the #bostonmarathon.” Kim Kardashian said: “My heart is breaking for everyone effected (sic) or injured in the explosion at the Boston Marathon. God bless you all! My prayers are with you!”
Nicki Minaj wrote: “My heart goes out to everyone who woke up this morning to enjoy a peaceful marathon but were met w/ senseless destruction.”
Reality star Bethenny Frankel opined it’s a “sad state of affairs when you’re scared to participate in or be a spectator at something as wholesome & American as a marathon.”
Country star Brad Paisley tweeted: “Could there be anything more cowardly than planting a bomb in a public place and running away? These terrorists are the epitome of cowardice.”
Actress Olivia Wilde expressed her shock with: “Oh for f**ks sake. I’m so disturbed by the reports from Boston. This is horrible.”
“Terrible new out of Boston,” wrote Bette Midler. “But before we jump to conclusions about the perps, we should wait; too many crazies (with agendas) to count.”
Rosie O’Donnell, who was attending an event in Toronto, took a different approach on Twitter. “I wish CNN would stop showing the bombing over and over and over – #terrorizing.” Referring to the media’s decision to pixelate images of basketball player Kevin Ware’s snapped tibia, she added: “A basketball players broken leg is too disturbing – but the same images over and over is not?”
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