Ellen DeGeneres had kept a low profile since relocating to England with her wife after Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election victory. For 14 months, the former talk show host avoided public statements on politics or current events, prompting speculation about her detachment from the United States. That changed on January 17, 2026, when she posted Instagram photos of Renée Good alongside the words: “I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried.” The message, shared from her home abroad, thrust her into a heated national debate over immigration enforcement and selective outrage.
A Rare Political Voice Breaks Silence
The post arrived amid escalating tensions following a fatal confrontation in Minneapolis. DeGeneres, known for her apolitical television program, had maintained silence even as U.S. immigration debates intensified. Her words marked a departure, amplifying a message from Good’s widow, Becca, and expressing personal grief over the incident.
The catalyst was Operation Metro Surge, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement action launched on January 7, 2026. More than 2,000 federal agents descended on Minneapolis to bolster enforcement efforts. Hours into the operation, 37-year-old Renée Good died from three shots fired by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
Department of Homeland Security officials claimed Good had attacked officers and attempted to run them over with her vehicle. Video analysis by The New York Times challenged that account, indicating her car presented no immediate threat to the shooting agent. Protests erupted swiftly: by January 10, over 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Minneapolis, with tens of thousands marching in cities nationwide under slogans like “ICE Out For Good.” Federal probes into the use of force followed, fueling arguments over agent conduct and legal compliance.
Swift Support and Emerging Criticism
DeGeneres’ post drew immediate praise from supporters who lauded her for leveraging her platform on behalf of the vulnerable. Comments poured in, with fans expressing gratitude for her stance on progressive issues—a shift from her show’s lighthearted neutrality. Yet backlash surfaced quickly. Detractors accused her of selective concern, noting her silence after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah the previous September.
One Instagram commenter wrote: “Ellen, I hope u continue to stay in the UK. RIP Charlie Kirk!!!!” Another charged: “You’re only angry about deaths that fit your beliefs.” Critics questioned whether her advocacy sought universal justice or aligned only with favored narratives.
Conservative Firestorm Intensifies
Megyn Kelly devoted her entire January 19 SiriusXM broadcast to the post, labeling it “willfully ignorant” and DeGeneres a “bully.” Kelly highlighted the Kirk omission and concluded: “Shame on her. Enjoy England.” The remarks rippled through Fox News, Newsmax, and other outlets, with pundits debating her authority to critique U.S. policy from overseas.
Progressive voices countered that the attacks overlooked ICE operation details. DeGeneres responded the next day via Instagram video, expressing pride in Minneapolis protesters, sadness over Good’s death, and insisting her initial post stemmed from genuine emotion rather than partisanship. She sidestepped the Kirk reference entirely.
Lingering Questions on Celebrity Influence
The episode resurrected scrutiny of DeGeneres’ past, including 2020-2022 reports of a toxic workplace on her show, where staff alleged bullying and unfair practices. Though she acknowledged issues at the time, conservatives revived the narrative to undermine her moral credibility.
Her exile amplified paradoxes: supporters grappled with her physical distance from the fray, while opponents dismissed her as disengaged. Media fragmentation exacerbated the divide—left-leaning coverage hailed her bravery, right-leaning emphasized hypocrisy. Algorithms reinforced echo chambers, turning a personal lament into emblematic proof of national polarization.
As the uproar subsided by late January 2026, DeGeneres remained in England, her posts intact online. The exchange underscored the challenges of celebrity activism in a fractured landscape, where genuine intent collides with accusations of bias, leaving unresolved whether such voices bridge divides or widen them further.
Sources:
Parade, “‘Angry’ Ellen DeGeneres Weighs In on Renee Good — and Fans Aren’t Having It,” January 18, 2026
People, “Ellen DeGeneres Makes Rare Political Statement with Message About Renee Good and Minneapolis,” January 19, 2026
Rolling Stone, “Ellen DeGeneres Speaks Out About ICE Killing of Renee Good: ‘I’m so Sad and so Angry’,” January 20, 2026
Yahoo Entertainment, “‘Angry’ Ellen DeGeneres Weighs In on Renee Good,” January 18, 2026
Fox News, “Ellen DeGeneres Draws Criticism for Comments on Minneapolis Protests,” January 18, 2026
Megyn Kelly Show (MegynKelly.com), “‘Shame on Her’: Megyn Calls Out Ellen DeGeneres’ Comments About Renee Good, Anti-ICE Protests,” January 19, 2026