Lorin Williams February 26th, 2022 - 10:42 AM
As Russia continued its invasion of Ukraine this week, social media lit up with reactions from various members of the TV industry. Many sentiments across the board expressed heartfelt concern for the people of Ukraine who have fallen victim to President Putin’s unlawful onslaught on the independent territory. The hashtag #StandWithUkraine has populated social media feeds and trending topics.
Vikings and Big Sky actress, Katheryn Winnick, posted several Instagram posts, including one featuring a video of Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, giving an address yesterday on how “we are defending our state alone, as we did yesterday.” Winnick has several posts stating she stands with her “motherland” and that Ukraine is “a Peaceful Country. We Do Not Deserve This War.”
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Similarly Marvel’s Hawkeye and When They See Us actress, Vera Farmiga, posted a photo of the Ukrainian flag along with a caption in the native tongue. The caption appeared to be portions of Ukraine’s national anthem.
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Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed star Shannen Doherty showed solidarity with the #StandWithUkraine movement reposting a statement from Marvel’s Eternals star, Angelina Jolie. In the statement, Jolie said she is “praying for the people in Ukraine” and is focused on making sure “everything possible is done to ensure the protection and basic human rights of those displaced, and refugees in the region.” Jolie is known for her humanitarian work with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR).
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Dancing With the Stars performer, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, provided live updates on the situation as he was on the ground in his native Ukraine as the attack began. He posted several videos on his Instagram profile making his followers aware he was safe.
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In a similar post, Heroes and Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere expressed her support for the country from which her ex-husband, former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, is from. According to Just Jared, she later had to reassure fans that their daughter, who once lived in the country, was indeed “safe and not in Ukraine.” Klitschko and his brother, Vitali, have since sworn to join the Ukrainian army to defend their homeland.
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With all the posts streaming down one’s timeline, not all were the best received. Actress AnnaLynne McCord (68 Kill, Nip/Tuck) chose to direct her disdain for Russia’s actions directly toward President Putin in a very awkward video that detailed how he wouldn’t be doing these things if she was his mother.
Dear Mister President Vladimir Putin… pic.twitter.com/LbDFBHVWJf
— AnnaLynne McCord (@IAMannalynnemcc) February 24, 2022
The video has received mixed reactions, including countless parodies mocking McCord’s lullaby limerick.
❤️ Dear Mister President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/NoOOmDsjDJ
— Kate (@katebarstool) February 24, 2022
Another tweet that received a lot of heat was from former pro wrestler turned actor, John Cena. The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker star attempted to align his antihero character with heroics that could somehow save Ukraine from the perilous predicament.
If I could somehow summon the powers of a real life #Peacemaker I think this would be a great time to do so.
— John Cena (@JohnCena) February 24, 2022
Many replies signified Cena’s heart may have been in the right place, but his words were far from it.
— Jäger von Heinrich Kramer (@jaegervonkramer) February 24, 2022
Tone deafness strong with this one.
— nda🔞 (@ndasfw) February 24, 2022
With all due respect, John; do you think at all before you post?
— Sheer (@SheerDotCom) February 24, 2022
And while some kept their misguided messages strictly online, others chose to vocalize their message. No one might have quite missed the point more than The View’s Joy Behar, who in discussing the situation on the daytime talk series, expressed how the invasion ruined her plans to visit Europe. The host’s comments can be viewed in this clip from ET Canada’s recap below:
The vitriol was immediate with many accusing Behar of centering herself rather than the people of Ukraine.
You almost have to respect Joy Behar’s unwavering commitment toward ensuring that boomers are the most hated generation alive pic.twitter.com/fw0cgEwc4I
— Ida Tavakoli (@IdaTavakoli) February 24, 2022
The people of #Italy upon hearing that #joybehar might have to cancel her vacation there due to the #Ukraine invasion. #TheView pic.twitter.com/0OHO9r9dP5
— Robin L. (@rsleb) February 25, 2022
This woman sends her sincerest apologies to #joybehar for her part in Joy’s indecision about a vacation in Italy this year. #Ukraine #TheView #ElitestTrash pic.twitter.com/YtULVEFOH6
— Bev Cross (@BevCross1) February 25, 2022
