Actress Susan Sarandon deleted an offensive tweet and offered an apology to the families of two slain New York City Police officers.
The left-wing actress and activist issued a statement Friday explaining that she “reacted quickly” in posting a meme showing a photo of throngs of NYPD officers lined up in the streets to honor Officer Jason Rivera, who was shot and killed last month in the line of duty.
Sarandon had shared a tweet reportedly posted by podcaster Danny Haiphong which showed thousands of police officers outside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral where the funeral for the 22-year fallen cop was held. This was the second time NYPD poured out in salute, having mourned Rivera’s partner, 27-year-old Wilbert Mora, who also died after the shooting in Harlem.
“I’m gonna tell my kids this is what fascism looks like,” the now-deleted tweet shared by Sarandon read, with the additional comment: “So, if all these cops weren’t needed for CRIME that day, doesn’t that mean they aren’t needed ANY day?”
The 75-year-old actress came under immediate fire for her insensitive and hateful tweet.
This is what privilege looks like: a wealthy actress, safe in her bubble, mocking heroes & making light of the crisis that cops are battling alongside our communities. NYC is uniting to stop the violence — @SusanSarandon is living on a different planet.https://t.co/U1q0t32TzR
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) February 3, 2022
Days later, she offered an apology.
“I deeply regret the meme I recently shared on Twitter that included Officer Jason Rivera’s funeral,” Sarandon wrote.
“I reacted quickly to the picture without connecting it to a police funeral and I realize now how insensitive and deeply disrespectful it was to make that point at that time. I sincerely apologize to the family of Officers Rivera and Mora for causing additional pain during their time of grieving,” she added.
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) February 4, 2022
Though the progressive actress saw some sympathetic responses to her mea culpa, many other Twitter users were not impressed.
It’s a shame that @SusanSarandon isn’t on The View so she could at least be suspended for a few weeks for being so insensitive.
Police say goodbye to their families each morning not knowing if they’ll return home safely. These officers & their grieving families deserved better.
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) February 4, 2022
In other words, I meant what I said, just a case of bad timing. Soooo sorry.
— workinstooge (@Baconn26026756) February 5, 2022
Only became insensitive when she got backlash, she knew what she tweeted. Just like Whoopi Goldberg,,, can’t tell me these elder ladies don’t know what they say.
— barb (@buckeyegal007) February 5, 2022
An apology from people who make remarks like this does not change anything. She said this because she feels this way and an apology changes nothing.
— David K. (@davkoch2) February 5, 2022
Thank u. Good riddance…. 👏👏👏
— ptyboxing2 (@ptyboxing2) February 4, 2022
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