What you might not know about the American author
Soon after a video surfaced of Phoenix police officers violently threatening a black family’s life for a toy stolen by a small child, the rapper announced that he and his team at Roc Nation would cover their legal support in a US$10 million lawsuit filed against the city and its police department, according to The Blast, also calling for the termination of the police officers involved.
The musician, who organized the biggest charity rock concert in the world (Live Aid) to help end hunger in Africa, visited orphans at a village near Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
During his commencement speech at Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy, the musician surprised the 2019 graduating students with a guaranteed internship after their first year of college.
The singer and entrepreneur joined the fight against anti-Asian hate crimes, which has seen a dramatic rise endangering AAPI communities in the US these past few years. Rihanna took to the streets for the #StopAsianHate march in New York City, along with her assistant Tina Truong, and many people marching alongside her didn't even recognize her as she went incognito in a dark outfit with long braids, a hat, and a black face mask. Of course, she has used her star power to elevate issues in the past, like Black Lives Matter or the farmers' protest in India, but she is no stranger to the work being done on the ground.
Angelina Jolie was appointed a Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Amy Schumer, who had her uterus removed to treat a reproductive disease, attended one of the many Women's Marches in October 2021 to protest in favor of women's reproductive rights. There, she was joined by her friend Jennifer Lawrence, who is pregnant with her first child. The demonstrations came a month after a new Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy—the most restrictive abortion law in the US—went into effect. "I don't have a uterus and she is pregnant but we out here @womensmarch @plannedparenthood #rallyforabortionjustice," Schumer captioned an Instagram photo of the pair. She held up a sign that read "Abortion is essential," while Lawrence's poster read, "Women can't be free if they can't control their bodies."
The French actress and animal activist spoke out about seal hunting in Ottawa, Canada.
Angelina Jolie made a passionate speech about domestic violence to the Senate in Washington D.C. The Oscar-winning actress was speaking in favor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which aims "to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking." She was accompanied by her daughter Zahara, who she said calmed her nerves before her address.
Jolie delivered a powerful speech about the victims of abuse who have been failed by the system, making specific reference to "Parents whose children have been murdered by an abusive partner, women who suffer domestic violence yet are not believed, children who have suffered life-altering trauma and post-traumatic stress at the hands of people closest to them." She teared up and took a moment to compose herself before saying, "Most of all, I want to acknowledge the children who are terrified and suffering at this moment. And the many people for whom this legislation comes too late."
'Full House' star Jodie Sweetin was shoved by a Los Angeles Police Department officer June 25 while protesting the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which ended federal protections of abortion rights. In a video of the incident, which Sweetin's rep confirmed was her, an officer grabs and pushes her before she falls to the ground. A group of fellow protestors helps her up while others admonish the line of police officers. The incident reportedly occurred along a freeway exit that protestors were blocking. “I’m extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court,” Sweetin said in a statement following the incident. “Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free.”
On November 9, Rainn Wilson took to Twitter to announce that he had changed his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Weather Wilson. Whether he has done this officially or not is unclear, but he informed viewers that he had changed it "on Twitter, Instagram, and even on my fancy writing paper.” He jokingly described the move as "a cheap little stunt to help save planet Earth." Wilson went on to explain that he was promoting a campaign to raise awareness of the climate crisis, particularly as it affects the Arctic regions. He called on everyone to go to ArcticRiskName.org and submit their version of a climate change name, while also offering some suggestions to his fellow celebs. Some of the best included 'Cardi The Arctic B Melting' and 'Amy Poehler Bears Are Endangered.' Wilson is on the board of a scientific organization called Arctic Basecamp which aims to combat climate change.
Sharon Stone revealed that in the process of fighting for HIV/AIDS research, she was forced to sacrifice her career. The actress spoke on December 2 at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival about taking over for late friend and then-amfAR chairwoman Elizabeth Taylor at the organization's annual fundraising gala in 1995, reports People. "I had pretty big shoes to fill with Elizabeth Taylor at amfAR," Stone said, adding that her publicist at the time told her: "If you do this, it will destroy your career." Stone recalled, "At the time you weren't allowed to talk about AIDS. She got hives on her neck. I said, 'I know, but I am going to do it, you're gonna kill me.' She replied, 'And if you don't, I am gonna kill you.'"
Stone said she "had no idea of the resistance, cruelty, hate and oppression that we would face" after she took over for Taylor. "I stayed for 25 years until we had AIDS remedies being advertised on TV like we have aspirin. It did destroy my career. I didn't work for eight years. I was told if I said condom again, funding would be removed. I was threatened repeatedly, my life was threatened, and I decided I had to stick with it," added Stone, who reiterated that she has no regrets after seeing how far research has come.
Graced with money, influence, and visibility, celebrities hold an immense power in today’s world. Some use that power to evade the laws of regular citizens, while others decide to use that power to help said citizens. Many stars have partnered with organizations or have become UN Goodwill Ambassadors, while others have taken action into their own hands.
In 2022 Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a 12-minute video on YouTube "for those who have gone down a path of hate" in which he which he urges anti-semites and other racist and discriminatory hate groups to choose a better path. The action star showed clips from his visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp where he made headlines in 2022 for reckoning with his father’s own Nazi past, and used it as a launch pad "to talk to you if you've found yourself thinking anyone is inferior and out to get you because of their religion or the color of their skin or their gender."
“There has never been a successful movement based on hate,” Schwarzenegger said. “Nazis? Losers. The Confederacy? Losers. The Apartheid movement? Losers. I don’t want you to be a loser. I don’t want you to be weak… despite all my friends who might say, ‘Arnold, don’t talk to those people. It’s not worth it,’ I don’t care what they say. I care about you. I think you’re worth it. I know nobody is perfect… I can understand how people can fall into a trap of prejudice and hate.” He emphasized that a life of hate is a miserable one, but, opting for the sympathetic route against hate speech, he insisted that it's never too late to change.
Everyone knows the world is in need of help, whether it’s social inequality or the impending environmental collapse. Sometimes the pressure to change the world is too much for people to think about if they’re already struggling to provide enough for themselves. That’s where the celebrity aid really shines. They fill in the gaps, often with money, but also by raising awareness and influencing the masses, so they can return a slice of their good fortune to the world.
Click through the gallery to see a heartwarming list of celebrities who have taken a stand for the issues they care about.
Meet Hollywood's A-list activists
Last year Arnold Schwarzenegger shared a lengthy video addressing anti-Semitic hate speech: "I don’t want you to be a loser"
CELEBRITY Celebrities
Graced with money, influence, and visibility, celebrities hold an immense power in today’s world. Some use that power to evade the laws of regular citizens, while others decide to use that power to help said citizens. Many stars have partnered with organizations or have become UN Goodwill Ambassadors, while others have taken action into their own hands.
In 2022 Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a 12-minute video on YouTube "for those who have gone down a path of hate" in which he which he urges anti-semites and other racist and discriminatory hate groups to choose a better path. The action star showed clips from his visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp where he made headlines in 2022 for reckoning with his father’s own Nazi past, and used it as a launch pad "to talk to you if you've found yourself thinking anyone is inferior and out to get you because of their religion or the color of their skin or their gender."
“There has never been a successful movement based on hate,” Schwarzenegger said. “Nazis? Losers. The Confederacy? Losers. The Apartheid movement? Losers. I don’t want you to be a loser. I don’t want you to be weak… despite all my friends who might say, ‘Arnold, don’t talk to those people. It’s not worth it,’ I don’t care what they say. I care about you. I think you’re worth it. I know nobody is perfect… I can understand how people can fall into a trap of prejudice and hate.” He emphasized that a life of hate is a miserable one, but, opting for the sympathetic route against hate speech, he insisted that it's never too late to change.
Everyone knows the world is in need of help, whether it’s social inequality or the impending environmental collapse. Sometimes the pressure to change the world is too much for people to think about if they’re already struggling to provide enough for themselves. That’s where the celebrity aid really shines. They fill in the gaps, often with money, but also by raising awareness and influencing the masses, so they can return a slice of their good fortune to the world.Click through the gallery to see a heartwarming list of celebrities who have taken a stand for the issues they care about.