Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher has sparked controversy by openly questioning the effectiveness of Hollywood's red-carpet activism, specifically targeting fellow stars who wore pins at the Golden Globes to honour a victim of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting.
Red Carpet Rebuke: 'We're Just Here for Showbusiness'
When approached by USA Today on the red carpet and asked if wearing a pin for Renee Nicole Good was an effective form of activism, Maher laughed and replied, 'Come on... We're just here for showbusiness today.' He condemned the 37-year-old mother-of-three's death as a 'terrible thing' and blamed ICE 'thugs' for the incident, but insisted that sporting a badge was unnecessary for him.
His comments stood in stark contrast to the actions of numerous high-profile attendees. Celebrities including Ariana Grande, Mark Ruffalo, Natasha Lyonne, and Jean Smart all chose to wear the commemorative pins during the glitzy awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
Stars Voice Support and Sykes' Stinging Response
Most notably, the ceremony's host, Wanda Sykes, wore the pin on the lapel of her glittering silver suit. Sykes, who also used a segment of the show to mock Maher, later explained her decision to Variety. 'I wore the pin for the mother who was murdered by an ICE agent,' she stated, adding, 'We need to speak up... We need to be out there and shut this rogue government down.'
The pins paid tribute to Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan 'Jon' Ross in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the preceding Wednesday. Disturbing footage of the incident circulated widely online, showing the tense interaction moments before Ross fired three shots, one of which struck and killed Good through her car's windshield.
The Incident That Divided a Nation
The shooting occurred during what was described as a protest against planned migrant detentions. Video evidence shows Good's car parked to block a road before Ross approaches. After ignoring orders to exit the vehicle, Good drove off. Federal authorities have claimed the agent acted in self-defence, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the shooting as 'reckless and unnecessary.'
The event and the contrasting responses at the Golden Globes have highlighted a deep cultural divide regarding the role of celebrity in political protest, placing the tragedy of Renee Nicole Good firmly back in the international spotlight.
