By Wonderwall.com Editors
10:14am PDT, May 28, 2020
On May 25, 2020, 46-year-old George Floyd, who's African American, died after a white police officer pinned him to the ground by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes, even though George repeatedly made it clear he couldn't breathe, video taken by bystanders showed. That officer and three others — who were arresting George for allegedly trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill — were soon fired and arrested: Former officer Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, while the others have since been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. Hollywood swiftly reacted to the tragedy — see what stars had to say in the very early days following the killing, starting with Beyonce, who took to her website to share a photo of George with the message, "REST IN POWER GEORGE FLOYD." Keep reading for more…
RELATED: Stars we lost in 2020
"This is what it means to be Black in America. Tried. Convicted. Killed for being Black. We are dictated by hundreds of years of policies that have restricted our very existence and still have to continue to face modern day lynchings. Here's the thing……America will never be great until we can figure out a way for it to work for EVERYBODY!!! 'I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued'……. RIP George Floyd 🙏🏿" –Viola Davis on Instagram
RELATED: Stars we've lost to the coronavirus
"THIS MUST STOP this makes me absolutely sick. This makes me angry this man DIED. This makes me sad. Racism is evil We need to use our voice! Please people. I'm sorry GEORGE FLOYD" —Justin Bieber, who posted this message alongside video footage of a white police officer kneeling on George Floyd's neck
RELATED: Famous people who have tested positive for COVID-19
"Enough is enough! What will it take ? A civil war ? A new president? Violent riots ? It's tired ! I'm tired ! The country is tired! You don't put fear in people when you do this you just show how coward YOU ARE ! And how America is really not the land of the free !" –Cardi B on Instagram
"George Floyd. My grandfather was named George Floyd Garner. I never met him, he died when my father was a boy. I have spoken this name with love my entire life, but now with even more meaning. I see the images of the police officer in Minnesota pinning George Floyd to the ground and think—I bet this same officer would step in to stop someone from kneeling on a dog's neck. And yet, here he is. My heart breaks. 'May God protect me', sings @keedronbryant. Please God protect him. And please, lead us out of these troubled waters. 💔 Forgive me for turning off comments today." –Jennifer Garner, who posted this message on Instagram alongside a video of 12-year-old gospel artist Keedron Bryant singing
"This is not okay. And it will not stop until everyone does their part. Especially white people. I said it recently and I'll say it again, do not let your discomfort surrounding social issues prevent you from speaking up for those IN DANGER. And reality is, until this STOPS COMPLETELY – THE BLACK COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN DANGER. DO YOUR PART. THIS INVOLVES YOU TOO. #GeorgeFloyd, I hope you RIP because it isn't fair so many didn't do their part to ensure you lived in peace." —Demi Lovato on Instagram
"GEORGE FLOYD my heart breaks for you and your family. #policebrutality needs to stop. #sayhisname" –Zoe Kravitz
"I apologize to everyone expecting to see me on Good Morning America today, but after the events in Minnesota with George Floyd I'm in no mood to tell America, good morning" –Ice Cube
"This just burns. Seems to be a never ending cycle. The murderers need to be charged severely. Even in the face of death this man was given zero empathy. #RIPGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd" –John Boyega on Instagram
"Police fire tear gas into a peaceful protest of George Floyd's murder but stood like the g—amn Queen's Guard when white a—oles w guns storm the state capitol protesting HAVING 2 WEAR A MASK IN A PANDEMIC. We live in 2 America's & if this doesn't make it clear ur a dummy" —Sarah Silverman on Twitter
"Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you?? 🤦🏾♂️ StayWoke" –NBA star LeBron James, who posted these words alongside a split image of a white police officer kneeling on George Floyd's neck and NFL star Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in a silent protest
"this video was beyond hard to watch. this is not how any human should ever be treated. it is up to us to say his name until justice is served!! !! !!" —Kylie Jenner on her Instagram Story
"When I don't have words I sing, when my heart hurts I sing, to watch yet another black body cut down hurt so I sing. 🤎 #georgefloyd #ahmaudarbery #philandocastile #ericgarner #sandrabland #rumainbrisbon #tamirrice #laquanmcdonald #michaelbrownjr #ericharris #tonyrobinson #antwonrose #stephonclark #dariustarver #kwamejones#devonbailey #christopherwhitfield #seanreed #stevendemarcotaylor #altonsterling #arianemccree#terrencefranklin #mileshall #williamgreen #walterscott" –Cynthia Erivo, who posted this message alongside a video of herself singing Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free"
"I don't have the words. I'm sick and tired of this, tired of being sad about our people dying needlessly. Harassed and humiliated in these challenging times, I thought we could come to together, but it seems like this Coronavirus has bought out more racism in a major way." —Naomi Campbell on Twitter
"You deserved your breath, your dignity, your life. Not to die in the street, murdered by a white cop's knee on your neck. You deserve our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action. We must act – for you – and for all of those were no cameras are present. We must. #GeorgeFloyd" –Ava Duvernay on Twitter
"George Floyd was killed at the hands of 4 officers in Minneapolis on Monday. The video is abhorrent. He should be alive. Getting killed by the police is the 6th leading cause of death of young black men in this country. White friends: We can't let our discomfort, ego, or belief that this work doesn't include us, prevent us from acknowledging our privilege and that we have the burden of dismantling white supremacy. We do. We can not be complacent. We can not be silent. We need to have this conversation with our families and friend and coworkers. Let's turn outrage into action. It starts with texting FLOYD to 55156 to demand that the officers who murdered George Floyd are arrested and charged. The link in my bio was compiled by @sarahsophief and has tangible things we can all do to educate ourselves (articles, films, who to follow on social media, organizations that need our funding, etc…) and disrupt the system from which we benefit. #georgefloyd" —Mandy Moore on Instagram
"There must be justice for George Floyd. For every life lost unnecessarily. There is so much work to do. #blacklivesmatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd #JusticeForFloyd" –Chrissy Metz on Twitter
"Praying for #GeorgeFloyd and his family. A family lost their loved one while pleading for help and the simple act to breathe. This is inexcusable. Text 'FLOYD' to 55156 and sign the petition. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd" —Nick Jonas on Instagram
"And now they should be prosecuted. This happens way too often, and seems only when caught on camera are MURDERERS even getting fired … unfortunately, the only way things will start changing is if all these racist ignorant monsters have to face the consequences- behind bars." —Gigi Hadid, who tweeted this message alongside a post revealing that the four officers involved had been terminated
"Rest in Peace #GeorgeFloyd . this has got to stop. it's hard to watch a video so foul. It's hard to think that this is still happening. but it is reality. And These police officer need to be accountable to the maximum degree for their obviously disgusting and horrific actions. I feel so sick, sad and sorry for George Floyd and his family. There is nothing anybody could say to me that makes this encounter even remotely ok. He was a peace activist and a man of respect and promise. There is no reason for anyone to be handled like that especially someone that is so unaggressive. Please spread this message. We can't forget his name #GeorgeFloyd thank you always to @shaunking for the flow of information." —Bella Hadid on Instagram
"Most of you come to my page for happy, uplifting and positive content. But tonight, my heart is wrecked over the racial injustice that has been happening for ages and continues to happen today. I can't comprehend it. I couldn't watch the video the first time through. I forced myself to watch a second time to the end so my heart would be ripped open raw with tears, sorrow, empathy and anger. I'm reading your posts on how I can help. I don't know how powerful sharing on Instagram is, but I won't be silent. We are one race, the human race. I pray for this country and the sin in all of us. I pray for God's mercy. I pray for justice. #justiceforfloyd" –Candace Cameron Bure on Instagram
"I haven't slept since I saw this on the 7 p.m. CNN segment last night. Literally: I have not closed my eyes. This is genocide; this is lynching without a rope. This is murder. I am asking all decent and good people to call the mayor of Minneapolis 612 673 2100. Please voice your outcries and leave a voicemail for the mayor who fired the 4 satanic evils. We shall overcome. But we have to keep overcoming every single day we live and breathe. #justiceforfloyd" –Andre Leon Talley on Instagram
"Enough. #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd" –Lupita Nyong'o, who tweeted these worlds alongside news announcing that the four officers involved had been fired
"You can not fight hate with hate, And I'm tired of being angry….. I just don't get it. #senseless" –Kelly Rowland on Instagram
My heart can't take it, seeing what's happened to #GeorgeFloyd. This is eerily similar to the death of #EricGarner. There has to be a stopping point in the process of arresting someone. It's all senseless" —Ciara on Twitter
"rest in power #GeorgeFloyd an unarmed black man who was murdered by a police officer ON CAMERA. this system is failing the people it should protect. where is the accountability?" –Halsey on Twitter
"I can't post the video 😡, I can still see the killer with his hands in his pocket and knee on the neck of a handcuffed black man🙏🏿rest in peace 🙏🏿 #georgefloyd and I hate him and all the cops that was there for it" –2 Chainz on Instagram
"Rest in power 🙏🏽" –Megan Thee Stallion on Instagram
"This story absolutely breaks my heart & enrages me. We can't let these officers get away with murder the way the others did in the Eric Garner case. Pls text FLOYD to 55156 & demand justice for George Floyd (the Minneapolis DA's office disconnected their phone number so calls won't be answered) #justiceforfloyd #justiceforgeorgefloyd" –Colton Haynes on Instagram
"Why?!!!!!!! My heart hurts every time I read the news! When will this stop?? Please help our country regain its humanity! We are all humans who deserve to be protected. Not killed. Please don't write any stupid comments. If you are not outraged by this, then unfollow me." —Eva Longoria on Instagram
"I[t] could easily have been RJ Robinson or Roman or even RYAN. This notion that you could just kill people and their skin makes them less worthy of life is inhuman! This is going on all the time without video evidence. As a mom of black boys I CANNOT TAKE THIS ANYMORE" –Holly Robinson Peete, who shared this comment in Eva Longoria's post about George Floyd's death
"How is this possible again??George Floyd said he couldn't breathe. Said his neck hurt. Said everything hurts. He wasn't armed. How does this happen???? Again???" –Rita Wilson on Instagram
"When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction. The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears, because your violence has brought this resistance. We have the right to fight back! Rest in Power George Floyd" –Colin Kaepernick
"GEORGE FLOYD If this image doesn't disturb you and piss you off, then idk. I've seen a lot of people speak up and try to articulate how fed up and angry they are. All good and well but it's the same same same reality we live in. George Floyd. George Floyd. George has a family. George didn't deserve to die. George pleaded for help and was just straight up ignored, which speaks loud and clear that his black life didn't matter. George was murdered. George wasn't human to that cop that slowly and purposefully took his life away. #georgefloyd" –NBA star Steph Curry, who posted this message on Instagram alongside an image of a white police officer kneeling on George Floyd's neck
