Support in the wake of the Orlando shooting
Like everyone else, young actresses were horrified by the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, Pulse, on the night of Saturday, July 11, which left 49 people dead. Here are just a few of their reactions.
All of my thoughts, prayers and love to all those effected by the hateful and despicable attack in Orlando. I feel sick to my stomach.
- Abigail Breslin (@yoabbaabba) June 12, 2016
I am so sad. How can you move on from a weekend like this. I love every single one of you. Humanity is confusing. Love as much as you can.
- Dove Cameron (@DoveCameron) June 13, 2016
Seems we've forgotten how to love #PrayForOrlando
- Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) June 12, 2016
There is too much violence in the world and it needs to stop. Heartbroken over the senseless violence in #Orlando #prayfortheworld
- Isabelle Fuhrman (@isabellefuhrman) June 12, 2016
my heart aches. my tears feel useless. to the loved ones of those taken so cruelly in Orlando, we hold out our hands to you in mourning.
- Georgie Henley (@geohenleyreal) June 12, 2016
Can't believe the news about Orlando. Thinking of everyone celebrating #Pride. Be safe🌈
- Jennette McCurdy (@jennettemccurdy) June 12, 2016
Senseless violence accomplishes nothing. Love wins.Kindness prevails.Spread joy not hate. Thoughts&prayers to all affected. #PrayForTheWorld
- Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara) June 12, 2016
The fact that all of these hashtags exist is a wake up call pic.twitter.com/C1m5BI8n6F
- Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) June 12, 2016
I am heartbroken..My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by last night's tragedy in Orlando. 💔
- Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) June 12, 2016
After so many tweets about praying for Orlando, Rowan Blanchard's words were a breath of fresh air:
If u are going to say that the victims are in your thoughts & prayers but not bring up homophobia & gun control then please save your words.
- Rowan Blanchard (@rowblanchard) June 12, 2016
On June 12, the day after the shooting, Hailee Steinfeld, 19, participated with several other celebrities at the annual LA Pride parade in West Hollywood. She performed her hits "Love Myself" and "Rock Bottom" on the parade stage, as well as a cover of Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself."
Hailee tweeted after the event: "There is no better reminder that love conquers all than joining the LGBTQ community at LA Pride tonight. I could have danced all night in celebration of our freedom and equality. In memory of the victims this weekend, we stand with you and your families.'
But perhaps the most surprising reaction in the wake of the Orlando shooting came from Mara Wilson, 28, who decided to show her support by coming out as bisexual herself. She started by tweeting an old photo of herself in a gay nightclub at age 18:
Me at a gay club when I was eighteen. I feel embarrassed looking at it now... pic.twitter.com/qMZec3WBvu
- Mara Wilson (@MaraWritesStuff) June 12, 2016
She went on to say: "I haven't been to one since college, except once when a friend brought me along. I didn't feel like I belonged there. But the LGBTQ community has always felt like home, especially a few years later when I, uh, learned something about myself." When asked by one fan if she identified as bisexual, she responded by deeming herself a 2 on the Kinsey scale. The Kinsey scale ranges from exclusively heterosexual (0) to exclusively homosexual (6). Mara tweeted to another fan: "I used to identify as mostly straight. I've embraced the Bi/Queer label lately."
A few days later, after the news of a former child star coming out made the media rounds, Mara tweeted: "I appreciate your support, but there's more important stuff happening than me also liking ladies. Also, I'm a relatively fortunate cis white lady, there's very little risk in me coming out. LGBT minorities are more at risk. Maybe focus on them instead?" But not all of the responses that she got were positive. Mara also said, "Apparently, admitting to something personal in a reply on my own Twitter makes me an 'attention whore' 'co-opting a tragedy.'"
But there's more going on with Mara than her coming out. She's recently written a book, Where am I Now?, a series of essays about growing up on film sets. She also appears in a new online video series, Swapped, which reenacts classic movie scenes, but with the genders swapped. Mara has a role in the first video, taken from American Psycho; she plays Paula Allen, the female equivalent to Jared Leto's Paul Allen.
All of my thoughts, prayers and love to all those effected by the hateful and despicable attack in Orlando. I feel sick to my stomach.
- Abigail Breslin (@yoabbaabba) June 12, 2016
I am so sad. How can you move on from a weekend like this. I love every single one of you. Humanity is confusing. Love as much as you can.
- Dove Cameron (@DoveCameron) June 13, 2016
Seems we've forgotten how to love #PrayForOrlando
- Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) June 12, 2016
There is too much violence in the world and it needs to stop. Heartbroken over the senseless violence in #Orlando #prayfortheworld
- Isabelle Fuhrman (@isabellefuhrman) June 12, 2016
my heart aches. my tears feel useless. to the loved ones of those taken so cruelly in Orlando, we hold out our hands to you in mourning.
- Georgie Henley (@geohenleyreal) June 12, 2016
Can't believe the news about Orlando. Thinking of everyone celebrating #Pride. Be safe🌈
- Jennette McCurdy (@jennettemccurdy) June 12, 2016
Senseless violence accomplishes nothing. Love wins.Kindness prevails.Spread joy not hate. Thoughts&prayers to all affected. #PrayForTheWorld
- Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara) June 12, 2016
The fact that all of these hashtags exist is a wake up call pic.twitter.com/C1m5BI8n6F
- Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) June 12, 2016
I am heartbroken..My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by last night's tragedy in Orlando. 💔
- Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) June 12, 2016
After so many tweets about praying for Orlando, Rowan Blanchard's words were a breath of fresh air:
If u are going to say that the victims are in your thoughts & prayers but not bring up homophobia & gun control then please save your words.
- Rowan Blanchard (@rowblanchard) June 12, 2016
On June 12, the day after the shooting, Hailee Steinfeld, 19, participated with several other celebrities at the annual LA Pride parade in West Hollywood. She performed her hits "Love Myself" and "Rock Bottom" on the parade stage, as well as a cover of Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself."
Hailee tweeted after the event: "There is no better reminder that love conquers all than joining the LGBTQ community at LA Pride tonight. I could have danced all night in celebration of our freedom and equality. In memory of the victims this weekend, we stand with you and your families.'
But perhaps the most surprising reaction in the wake of the Orlando shooting came from Mara Wilson, 28, who decided to show her support by coming out as bisexual herself. She started by tweeting an old photo of herself in a gay nightclub at age 18:
Me at a gay club when I was eighteen. I feel embarrassed looking at it now... pic.twitter.com/qMZec3WBvu
- Mara Wilson (@MaraWritesStuff) June 12, 2016
She went on to say: "I haven't been to one since college, except once when a friend brought me along. I didn't feel like I belonged there. But the LGBTQ community has always felt like home, especially a few years later when I, uh, learned something about myself." When asked by one fan if she identified as bisexual, she responded by deeming herself a 2 on the Kinsey scale. The Kinsey scale ranges from exclusively heterosexual (0) to exclusively homosexual (6). Mara tweeted to another fan: "I used to identify as mostly straight. I've embraced the Bi/Queer label lately."
A few days later, after the news of a former child star coming out made the media rounds, Mara tweeted: "I appreciate your support, but there's more important stuff happening than me also liking ladies. Also, I'm a relatively fortunate cis white lady, there's very little risk in me coming out. LGBT minorities are more at risk. Maybe focus on them instead?" But not all of the responses that she got were positive. Mara also said, "Apparently, admitting to something personal in a reply on my own Twitter makes me an 'attention whore' 'co-opting a tragedy.'"
But there's more going on with Mara than her coming out. She's recently written a book, Where am I Now?, a series of essays about growing up on film sets. She also appears in a new online video series, Swapped, which reenacts classic movie scenes, but with the genders swapped. Mara has a role in the first video, taken from American Psycho; she plays Paula Allen, the female equivalent to Jared Leto's Paul Allen.