Recently, Ellen DeGeneres has been under fire after being spotted hanging out with former U.S. president George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys football game. "Here's the thing," she explained. "I'm friends with George Bush. In fact, I'm friends with a lot of people who don't share the same beliefs that I have. We're all different and I think that we've forgotten that that's okay… Just because I don't agree with someone on everything doesn't mean that I'm not going to be friends with them."
Yes, that was me at the Cowboys game with George W. Bush over the weekend. Here’s the whole story. https://t.co/AYiwY5gTIS— Ellen DeGeneres (@Ellen DeGeneres) 1570501531.0
A lot of people on Twitter voiced their rebuttals online. Still, other celebrities have stood by Ellen, including Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Bell, and Kristin Chenoweth. Now Sir Elton John joins in defending the talk show host. "I admire Ellen for standing up and saying what she said," John told NPR in an interview, while promoting his autobiography entitled Me. "George Bush has made a lot of mistakes. I made a lot of mistakes. Ellen DeGeneres has made a lot of mistakes."
The iconic singer continued, "People need to come together [...] They need to respect people's view on life. Except when it's heresy, and I don't think George Bush is that kind of guy."
The singer's comments have, of course, gotten backlash online.
lol at elton john on npr excusing ellen for pal-ing around with bush cause yeah white rich gays justifying white ri… https://t.co/oKHWP1RsJR— DISARM DEFUND & DISBAND THE POLICE (@DISARM DEFUND & DISBAND THE POLICE) 1570990497.0
Me to The Gays now that Elton John has defended Ellen & George W. Bush on National Public Radio: https://t.co/lbLgr6H4Vd— i.f. gonzales 🐰🥀 (@i.f. gonzales 🐰🥀) 1570975748.0
Meanwhile, other celebrities have made it clear that they don't agree with DeGeneres's sentiments. Actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted, "Sorry, until George W. Bush is brought to justice for the crimes of the Iraq War, (including American-lead torture, Iraqi deaths & displacement, and the deep scars—emotional & otherwise—inflicted on our military that served his folly), we can't even begin to talk about kindness."
Kristen Bell's Good Place co-star Jamila Jamil also wrote, "Ooooof learning today about the full extent of Bush's heinous presidency... we weren't taught much about him at school, we just heard he was stupid...(we were dealing with our own epic nightmare of a prime minister back then). What a monstrous leader. I now understand the rage.."
Sorry, until George W. Bush is brought to justice for the crimes of the Iraq War, (including American-lead torture,… https://t.co/uUuOOJ23ff— Mark Ruffalo (@Mark Ruffalo) 1570647149.0
“But missing the point entirely, DeGeneres framed the issue as simply a matter of her hanging out with someone with… https://t.co/LdxJ5TgRN7— Susan #DefundThePolice Sarandon (@Susan #DefundThePolice Sarandon) 1570552427.0
Ooooof learning today about the full extent of Bush’s heinous presidency... we weren’t taught much about him at sch… https://t.co/0sACjn9dTy— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@Jameela Jamil 🌈) 1570606800.0
Since posting the video response to the controversy via Twitter, Ellen has yet to make any further statements regarding the matter.
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