By Wonderwall.com Editors
7:34am PDT, May 24, 2023
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In something that has become all too familiar, a school shooting occurred on May 24, 2022, this time in Uvalde, Texas: A gunman killed 19 elementary school students and two adults at Robb Elementary School. The suspect in the massacre was also killed. NPR reported that it was the 27th school shooting of 2022 at the time.
Social media sounded off on the heels of the tragedy — the deadliest shooting at a U.S. grade school since the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut — and many voices came from those in the entertainment world… Join us as we revisit how stars reacted to the massacre at the time…
"I cannot even fathom the pain the families in Uvalde are feeling. To me, this isn't about political sides, personal freedoms, or beliefs. We, as human beings, need to realize that we have a disease that needs recognition, treatment, and a cure. I'm not intelligent enough to know what that cure is, but I am intelligent enough as most people are that we must have unbiased dialogue and action about what / how to work toward a solution," Tim McGraw tweeted. "Divisive rhetoric has done zero to help this problem – it's only made it worse. For one minute, let's set aside our idealistic views and concentrate on the kind of world we want our children to grow up in. This sort of tragedy has become far too common, far too acceptable. This shouldn't have been acceptable 20 years ago, 4 years ago, or one week ago. This SHOULD NOT be accepted. This is not normal."
Keep reading to see how others reacted to the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
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Kim Kardashian posted a lengthy message on her Instagram Stories and Twitter (read it all here) on May 25 sharing her feelings about the tragic school shooting and what the country should do next. "The current laws in our country around gun control are not protecting our children. We have to push law makers to enact laws that are fitting in today's world. Semi automatic weapons, assault weapons, weapons of war, should not be legally sold or owned by American civilians. They should be banned. Period," she wrote in part. "Assault weapons didn't even exist when the Second Amendment was written. We have to stop allowing people to use a sentence written centuries ago when technology, times, humanity were completely different, to dictate how we regulate gun ownership, & how we protect our kids today." Kim pointed out how many mass shootings — including this one — were committed by people under 21, writing, "Someone who is not old enough to buy alcohol should not be allowed to purchase a firearm. There is no world in which an 18 year old needs a semi automatic weapon, or any weapon, and no world in which the outcome can be anything other than tragic. As I even type these words I am seriously dumbfounded that this is something considered normal, acceptable and legal." Kim believes "if we increase [the] legal age to purchase, coupled with a ban on assault weapons, we can without a doubt reduce the number of senseless tragedies and save children's lives."
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Matthew McConaughey took to Instagram to share his grief and urge his followers to rearrange their values in the wake of the tragedy, which took place in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas. "As you all are aware there was another mass shooting today, this time in my home town of Uvalde, Texas. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us. The true call to action is now for every American to take a longer and deeper look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, 'What is it that we truly value? How do we repeat the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to pressure a healthier and safer nation, state, and neighborhood tomorrow?' We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo," he wrote, continuing, "As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, it's time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate, our wants from our needs. We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children's issue." The Oscar winner went on to say, "This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured." He concluded, "And to those who dropped off their loved ones today not knowing it was goodbye, no words can comprehend or heal your loss, but if prayers can provide comfort, we will keep them coming."
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"I am a parent of children that have these active shooter drills. I can tell you that it changes who your children are fundamentality and it makes them afraid of everything and every place because every place is potentially dangerous," Kelly Ripa said on "Live" while noting the "unrecoverable" pain being felt by families in Uvalde, Texas. "What are we doing? Who are we as a society? And before you tell me to stay in my lane — this is my lane. This is my lane."
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"Filled with rage and grief, and so broken by the murders in Uvalde. By Buffalo, Laguna Woods and so many others. By the ways in which we, as a nation, have become conditioned to unfathomable and unbearable heartbreak. Steve's words ring so true and cut so deep," Taylor Swift wrote on Twitter, breaking a months-long hiatus on the social media site and referencing widely viewed impassioned comments made by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr at a pre-NBA game press conference in Texas house after the shooting.
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"If children aren't safe at school where are they safe? Today in my home state of Texas 18 innocent students were killed while simply trying to get an education. A teacher killed doing her job; an invaluable yet sadly under appreciated job." –Selena Gomez
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"Last week the left said 'If you ban abortions people will just get them illegally.' Now they want to ban guns? Wont people just get them illegally then? How dare you politicize a tragedy to push your idiotic agenda." –Kevin Sorbo
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Chris Evans used just two words (in all capital letters) to air his anger. "F****** ENOUGH!!!!" he wrote on Twitter.
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"My heart is broken over the tragedy in Uvalde." –Leah Remini
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"It's BEEN enough. We've been at 'enough' for centuries." –Gabrielle Union
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"18 elementary children… a small classroom size. Imagine you walk down a hall & an entire class… GONE. I've already lost track of which shooting happened even a year ago. The victim's families haven't and never will. At this rate, this kind of violence only happens HERE." –Maren Morris
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"There is true evil in the world, folks, it's all around us." –Ricky Schroder
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"As a mother, this is the tragically unimaginable. School should be a SAFE place. My heart breaks for the pain and suffering of every family member and loved one connected to today's events in Texas. My prayers are with you" –Kerry Washington
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"Watching these opportunistic parasites politicizing a devastating tragedy has just become too much to bear." –James Woods
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"It's unfathomable. As a father, I can't imagine the horror of that phone call. When I dropped my kids off at school this morning, and kissed them goodbye, it doesn't cross your mind that that could ever be the last goodbye… I don't know what has to happen to change things here. I am constantly shocked by the number of people who must think this is an okay byproduct to never make meaningful changes to gun laws. It doesn't make sense to me. This doesn't reflect the country that I think America is. The America I've always admired — you have a problem and you solve it. You're on the forefront of medicine, of technology, of innovation. When there's a world war, you are the ones we turn to, yet on this issue America is one of the most backward places in the world." –James Corden on "The Late Late Show"
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"There are no words. We must take action. Uvalde, your entire community is in our hearts." –Mandy Moore
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"There is nothing that could ever be said that can approach the immeasurable grief of those families. While we're at it, let's pray that this time our leaders show a modicum of courage to stop this from ever happening again, but prayers won't end this. Voting might. So when you vote, ask yourself this question: Who running for office has publicly stated that they are willing to do anything and everything in their power to protect your children from the criminally insane number of guns in America?" —Stephen Colbert
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"We living in some TRYING TIMES… It's Heavy…I am praying for everyone that is struggling MENTALLY/FINANCIALLY/PHYSICALLY that some PEACE be RESTORED! So many in the world is dealing with pain & I don't have the answers but I send you LOVE virtually" –Missy Elliott
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"How is this happening? My heart is breaking. I pray, I hope, I beg, I plead… please, law makers, government officials, leaders of our country, do something to protect our children." –Khloe Kardashian
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"Prayers for the people in Texas man those are kids that were killed smh this world needs God smh" –Offset
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"How many more must die or hurt before something is done to stop children/adults ease of obtaining fire arms. #momsdemandaction #EndGunViolence #schoolviolence" –Peter Frampton
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"I can't believe what I'm seeing… It is unimaginable, horrific, inexcusable, devastating. Is this the country we want to leave to our children, our grandchildren? A country where kids can't even feel safe at school? No words can make this better." –Kris Jenner
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"Are you happy now, Governor Abbott? I guess you are," Bette Midler tweeted while attaching a 2015 tweet from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in which he implored Texans to buy more new guns.
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"My heart is heavy with news tonight. Sending you all love and light this evening. Holding space in my heart for all those suffering the unimaginable." –Susan Kelechi Watson
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"My heart is with the families and children of Robb Elementary in Texas. Truly horrifying." –Elijah Wood
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"We need to make some changes now." –Jon Batiste
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"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Just last week a targeted mass shooting at a market in Buffalo and now a school shooting in Uvalde. Communities should be safe in their grocery stores, our CHILDREN should be safe in class! This has to end. Thoughts and prayers aren't enough. We need change." –Becky G
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"My thoughts and prayers goes out to the families of love ones loss & injured at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX! Like when is enough enough man!!! These are kids and we keep putting them in harms way at school. Like seriously 'AT SCHOOL' where it's suppose to be the safest!," LeBron James tweeted. He added, "There simply has to be change! HAS TO BE!! Praying to the heavens above to all with kids these days in schools."
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"My heart absolutely breaks for the children, staff and families at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The lack of progress around how to protect innocent lives from senseless gun violence is FAR past SHAMEFUL in this country." –Rachel Lindsday
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"Texas Gov. Abbott said the Uvalde shooter 'shot and killed — horrifically, incomprehensibly — 14 students & a teacher.' -These horrors will continue (Sandy Hook), and many more since. But no one changes anything. You can't wear your mask in school but bring your guns. #texas" –Daisy Fuentes
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"17 kids wasn't enough. 20 kids wasn't enough. 20+ church goers wasn't enough. 80+ at a concert wasn't enough. Ten at a market wasn't enough. 14 children won't be enough." –Ethan Embry
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"Gun violence is a epidemic in America it's disgusting and cruel that the GOP won't do anything to change this sick violent trend vote these monsters out and get gun safety now" –Rosanna Arquette
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"This is devastating. This is a heartbreaking moment for every one of us who has to live in this country. This must stop each of us in our tracks. Each of us must do all we can to help our leaders who are in support of gun reform. This is a stain on our country — a stain on all of us! We can't hide behind second amendment rights, we can't just say it's just mental health. IT'S EVERYTHING, and IT'S UP TO EVERYONE! We've got to solve this now. Families are breaking apart. Lives are senselessly being lost. Everyone is susceptible. Every community, every event, every city is vulnerable. This should sicken each of us! We need reform now. We cannot wait. #uvaldetx" –Maria Shriver
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"Thoughts and prayers are not enough. After years of nothing else, we are becoming a nation of anguished screams. We simply need legislators willing to stop the scourge of gun violence in America that is murdering our children." –Hillary Clinton
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"Absolutely horrendous. I don't know what else to say about these endless US gun massacres – it's for Americans to resolve but where is the will?" –Piers Morgan
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"Wow wow wow. Cookie and my hearts are so broken right now after hearing the news of the Uvalde, Texas elementary school shooting. We send our condolences to the families that lost a loved one today. My goodness, God bless the families that are grieving" –Magic Johnson
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"Will we ever be able to move beyond thoughts and prayers?" –Daniel Dae Kim
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"Republicans will force you to have your kid but will do absolutely f****** nothing to keep them safe" –Dylan O'Brien
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"Our hearts go out to those in texas at the Robb elementary school and everyone effected. Something has to change in this country. We are the only country where kids go to school and could wind up shot." –The Chainsmokers
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"The blood of every child that dies of gun violence in this country is on the hands of the Republican Party." –Rob Reiner
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"It's either kids or guns. You need to decide which one is more important and vote accordingly." –Andy Richter
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"Jesus Christ. Another mass shooting in America. This time in an elementary school. How many Americans, how many little kids, need to die before we finally say enough and throw-out those standing in the way of gun reform?" –Ana Navarro-Cardenas
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"I am praying for all those that have been injured as a result of this latest school shooting. I am absolutely devastated and my heart aches at this news. Please pray for the children and their families." –Adrienne Maloof
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"Prayers aren't enough. Change the laws." –Stephen King
