Julia Roberts, the celebrated actress and longtime Democratic supporter, has found herself at the center of controversy following her appearance at a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia. During her speech at the Cherokee County Reproductive Freedom Rally in Canton, Georgia, Roberts urged attendees to garner more male support for Harris, sparking a wave of backlash on social media.
The Academy Award-winning actress, 56, addressed the crowd in her home state, passionately advocating for women's reproductive rights-a key issue in the upcoming election. "I believe in Georgia. I wouldn't have come home if I didn't believe that we can accomplish really beautiful goals that will extend beyond our state's borders," Roberts declared, highlighting her connection to the state and her belief in its potential to influence national change.
Roberts' remarks, however, took a divisive turn when she encouraged the predominantly female audience to reach out to men who were not present. "I just hope that all the women here tonight talk to all the men that aren't here tonight. And all you brave men who are here tonight, talk to all the other men who aren't here tonight," she said. This call to action was met with mixed reactions, with some perceiving her comments as condescending or out of touch.
The "Pretty Woman" star, who has previously endorsed Barack Obama and Joe Biden, emphasized the need for unity and dialogue, urging voters to engage with those who might have differing political views. "Talk to all the people in your life, no matter which party they are affiliated with," Roberts advised. "Maybe they don't understand things quite the way you do. Bring them into a conversation. Make sure they're registered to vote-even if they're not voting for the person you think they should vote for."
Despite her earnest plea for bipartisan engagement, Roberts' comments quickly drew criticism online. Social media users questioned her motivations and ridiculed her for what some saw as a patronizing tone. One critic on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "How much did they pay her to embarrass herself???" while another remarked, "Julia has clearly lost it...and if there's a man in her life, I feel sorry for him."
Roberts' appearance in Georgia was part of a series of events organized to support Harris and mobilize voters in the battleground state. She was joined by prominent figures like Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia state representative, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Together, they rallied supporters to focus on women's rights and voter registration ahead of early voting.
The backlash was not entirely unexpected, as Roberts' remarks highlighted the challenge of mobilizing male voters in support of Harris. Roberts, however, remained steadfast in her message, emphasizing the importance of unity. "Let's get to the uniting, let's get to the joy, let's get to the repair, let's get to prices dropping, rent dropping, and let's get to the good stuff so we can start living our lives to the fullest potential that we have," she urged the audience, aiming to inspire hope and optimism.
Despite her efforts, Roberts' speech also sparked criticism for its perceived lack of awareness regarding Vice President Harris's role. Some online commenters pointed out that Roberts seemed to ignore the fact that Harris has already been serving as the acting Vice President of the United States for nearly four years. This led to further questions about the effectiveness of Roberts' advocacy and whether her approach might alienate more than it unites.
Roberts' push for broader voter engagement, however, was not entirely without praise. Some attendees and political analysts noted that her calls for dialogue, even with those holding different viewpoints, were in line with the broader Democratic strategy of seeking a united front in the divisive political landscape of 2024.
