Ellen DeGeneres vanished from public view for months. The former late-night host moved to England after Trump’s 2024 re-election win. She stayed quiet—no statements, no activism, no politics.
Friends wondered if she’d abandoned America completely. Then on January 17, 2026, she posted one Instagram photo with two words that shocked the nation: “so angry.” The post ignited a national firestorm about her sudden political voice.
A Rare Political Statement Emerges
DeGeneres’ Instagram post shocked people because it happened at all. She and her wife moved to England 14 months earlier and avoided politics completely. Her TV show always stayed neutral and avoided controversy.
This moment felt different. The post came 10 days after a deadly shooting in Minneapolis. Immigration enforcement filled the national news, and thousands protested in major cities. DeGeneres finally spoke up.
Minneapolis ICE Operation Turns Deadly
On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. Over 2,000 federal agents arrived to increase immigration enforcement. Within hours, Renée Good, age 37, was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
The DHS Secretary said Good attacked officers and tried to run them over. The New York Times video analysis disagreed. It showed Good’s car posed no real threat to the agent who fired three shots fast.
Nationwide Backlash Begins
The shooting sparked huge protests everywhere. By January 10, Minneapolis saw over 1,000 demonstrations. Crowds carried signs saying “ICE Out For Good.” Tens of thousands marched in the streets.
Federal investigators announced inquiries into the shooting. Americans debated whether ICE used too much force and whether officers followed the law. News outlets covered the shooting from many angles. DeGeneres stayed silent while tension grew daily.
DeGeneres Posts from Exile
On January 17, 2026, Ellen DeGeneres shared Instagram photos of Renée Good. She also posted a message from Becca Good, Renée’s widow. DeGeneres wrote: “I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried.” She posted from her home in England.
This was her first real political statement since moving abroad. She didn’t just share someone else’s words. She added her own strong feelings, reaching millions of people.
Supporters Rally Behind Her Stance
Supportive comments flooded her Instagram post within hours. Fans praised her courage for breaking her silence. They said her platform should help people without power. One person wrote: “Thank you, Ellen.”
Others thanked her for supporting progressive causes. Her old TV show always avoided big debates. Now, for the first time, people celebrated her not for making them laugh but for doing what’s right.
The Backlash Emerges: Selective Outrage
Not everyone supported her post. Critics said she only cared about some deaths. They pointed out that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September 2025 in Utah. DeGeneres said nothing about his death.
One Instagram user wrote: “Ellen, I hope u continue to stay in the UK. RIP Charlie Kirk!!!!” Another said: “You’re only angry about deaths that fit your beliefs.” Did she really want justice for everyone, or only for her own side?
Megyn Kelly’s National Platform Attack
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly used her large platform to criticize DeGeneres. On her SiriusXM show (Channel 111, 12–2 PM ET), Kelly spent her entire January 19 show discussing DeGeneres’ post. She called it “willfully ignorant” and called DeGeneres a “bully.”
Kelly said DeGeneres only cared about immigration deaths while ignoring Kirk’s death. Kelly ended with: “Shame on her. Enjoy England.” Her critique spread across all conservative news outlets.
Fox News and Conservative Media Amplify Criticism
Within one day, Fox News, Newsmax, and many outlets copied Kelly’s criticism. Conservative analysts asked if DeGeneres could speak on American policy from overseas. Progressive outlets said Kelly’s argument was unfair and didn’t change facts about ICE.
The fight showed something bigger: America split so badly that one post about a shooting became proof of bias. DeGeneres’ silence had been safe. Her words made people see her through their own beliefs.
Celebrity Activism’s Credibility Crisis
A bigger issue emerged from the backlash. DeGeneres tried to clearly show her values, but revealed a real problem with celebrity activism. Can famous people speak truthfully about policy from far away?
Speaking from England about American immigration made her both involved and separated. Critics said her move to England showed she gave up on America. Even people who agreed with her couldn’t explain how distance helped her moral voice.
Workplace Toxicity Legacy Resurfaces
Her old TV show’s problems resurfaced. From 2020 to 2022, news outlets reported on the mean workplace behavior at her program. Former staff said bosses bullied them and made unfair deals. DeGeneres admitted bad things happened, but didn’t go far enough.
Years later, Kelly and other conservatives used this history against her. They said her sudden moral anger felt fake, given that she was accused of hurting workers. Her reputation never fully healed, and this moment made it worse.
DeGeneres Responds with Video Message
On January 18, just hours after the backlash started, DeGeneres posted a video to Instagram. She spoke calmly about being “proud” of peaceful protesters in Minneapolis fighting ICE and talked about how sad Renée Good’s death made her.
She said her first post came from the heart, not politics. But she didn’t answer critics who said she ignored Charlie Kirk’s death. She stayed quiet on that topic. Her careful words showed her team knew the danger of saying too much.
The Paradox of Exile Activism
A deeper problem appeared. DeGeneres’ move to England made her seem like the weakest voice on American policy. People who agreed with her disliked her distance. People who opposed her used it as proof that she was fake.
One Twitter user wrote: “She left America because Trump won, then complained about America from 4,000 miles away.” Fair or not, that comment showed a real issue: Does criticism from far away have equal weight as standing and fighting at home?
Media Fragmentation Deepens the Divide
The fight showed how split American news really is. Left-leaning outlets called her brave. Right-leaning outlets called her arrogant. Each side ignored the other’s facts. Progressive reporters showed ICE used too much force.
Conservative reporters emphasized her silence about Kirk. Both sides had true points, but the gap between them was too big to close. One Instagram post meant to show clear values ended up proving that America can’t agree on basic facts. Algorithms keep people apart.
The Unresolved Question
By late January 2026, the uproar faded into background noise. A big question remained: Did DeGeneres’ post really help her cause, or did it just show that celebrity activism creates anger without change? Her decision to speak came from a genuine feeling. Her concerns seemed real.
But the fight revealed how hard it is to create real change when people live in separate news worlds, and algorithms boost anger over understanding. DeGeneres stayed in England. Her post stayed online. America remained split.
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