The 2024 Election: Celebrity Reactions, From Ariana Grande to Christina Applegate

Following former President Donald Trump's victory, stars took to social media to share their thoughts.

In the early morning hours of November 6, it was announced that former President Donald Trump had won the 2024 presidential election and would be returning to the White House in January 2025. After winning key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, Trump clinched the 270 electoral votes needed to win. MAGA loyalists celebrated his victory while many democrats and fans of Vice President Kamala Harris expressed grief and fear over what another Trump presidency could mean for our country and the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community.

Members of both parties took to social media on Wednesday to comment on the results, including celebrities like Christina Applegate, Ariana Grande, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Portnoy, and more. Cardi B posted a selfie with a concise, yet clear, message: "I hate yall bad." Portnoy shared a controversial video speaking about Trump's success, while other stars shared hopeful messages for the women, gay, and transgender people in their lives.

During her concession speech, Harris urged her supporters and young voters to keep the faith.

"To everyone who is watching: Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves,” she said on Wednesday to a crowd at her alma mater, Howard University. “A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks to public trust must honor it.”

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she added.

Read on for all of the celebrities' reactions to the results of the 2024 election.

Christina Applegate

The Dead to Me actress shared on X that her 13-year-old daughter, Sadie, was devastated by the news and encouraged anyone who was not aligned with her beliefs to unfollow her.

“Why? Give me your reasons why????? My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away," she wrote in frustration. "Why? And if you disagree, please unfollow me.”

In a separate post she added, "Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah, that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Don’t want followers like this. So, yeah. Done. Also after today, I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years, because this is sick."

Lili Reinhart

The Riverdale star took to X to express her sadness and grief for the women who have previously accused Trump of sexual assault.

“I cannot fathom the feeling of the women who came forward about their sexual assault at the hands of Trump," she wrote. "Seeing millions of people vote for their abuser. My heart absolutely breaks for these women. I believe you, and I am so sorry.”

Cardi B

Cardi B first shared an Instagram Story with the caption, "I hate yall bad." She later posted a statement supporting Harris, whom she publicly backed.

"No matter what they've said to bring you down or belittle your run for presidency they can never say you didn't run your race with honesty and with integrity!" she wrote. "You really put up a fight against all odds that were already stacked against you!"

"This may not mean much, but I am so proud of you," she added. "No one has ever made me change my mind and you did. I never thought I would see the day that a woman of color would be running for the president of the United States, but you have shown me, showed my daughters and women across the country that anything is possible."

Billie Eilish

The two-time Oscar-winning musician and singer simply wrote, “It's a war on women,” against a black backdrop on her Instagram Story. The artist had recently endorsed Harris while on stage at her concert in Atlanta.

Ariana Grande

"Holding the hand of every person who is feeling the immeasurable heaviness of this outcome today," Grande wrote against a black backdrop on Instagram, before sharing resources for the LGBTQ+ communities.

Laverne Cox

The transgender actress went live on Instagram to speak about the results, but encouraged her followers to stay positive and start working toward a solution.

"It’s unimaginable, but this is the country we live in. A majority of Americans [wanted this]. He won popular vote and the Electoral College, it wasn’t even close. And I think that should tell us what kind of country we live in," she said. "And that spells doom for a lot of us. So, we gotta feel our feelings and then get an action plan."

Dave Portnoy

The Barstool Sports founder shared a video congratulating the president elect and revealing that he had voted for Trump.

"The Democrats gave us no choice. That was the worst campaign and the pure arrogance and the moral superiority have driven people away," he claimed. "If you say you're voting for Trump, suddenly you're a Nazi, you're Hitler, you're garbage. Enough. Enough!" 

Jamie Lee Curtis

The Everything Everywhere All at Once actress lamented about Trump's win while also accepting the results with a statement shared to social media.

“Many will be celebrating, possibly even gloating over their victory. Many will be stunned and sad with the terrible feelings of the loss. That is the same result despite who wins because that's what America and democracy looks like. Has always looked like," she wrote. "So, what does it mean? It means a sure return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time. Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve. For all those people there will be those who will help you. Me included. But what it really means is that we wake up and fight. Fight for women and our children and their futures and fight against tyranny, one day at a time. One fight at a time. One protest at a time. That's what it means to be an American. That's what it has always meant and will always mean, regardless of the outcome.”

Kerry Washington

Washington wrote, "It was not a mirage," before sharing several hopeful and comforting quotes.

"Be kind to yourself today," she added. "There is more work to do."

Jonathan van Ness

The Queer Eye star shared a video talking in front of mirror, saying, “We are going to keep showing up. We are going to keep working together. We are going to be okay."

"I love you," they added, pointing to the mirror. "We are going to be okay.”

Bette Midler

The actress expressed her disappointment while quoting writer H.L. Mencken, per Teen Vogue.

“When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental—men whose whole thinking is done in terms of emotion, and whose dominant emotion is dread of what they cannot understand. So confronted, the candidate must either bark with the pack or be lost…," her X post read. "All the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre—the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum…The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

Sophia Bush

The actress and activist reposted another post about disgraced nonprofit Get Out the Vote president Jason Yates.

"Great job giving the MAGA gang more power, America," she wrote. "Wonder how many folks are seeing this and STILL saying 'But but but at least he’s not a Black woman!' in the privacy of their homes tonight. My heart is broken."

Jeff Bezos

Founder of Amazon celebrated the result, writing, “Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.”