Celebs React To Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's Testimony
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist and professor, accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and his friend, Mark Judge, of sexually assaulting her during a house party while they were in high school in the early '80s. Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegations, but after weeks of political turmoil, the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed to allow Ford to testify under oath on Sept. 27, 2018.
"I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified," Ford said in her powerful opening statement (via NPR). "I am here because I believe it is my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school."
During her emotional testimony, a tearful Ford revealed that "apart from the assault itself, these last couple of weeks have been the hardest of my life." She added, "I have had to relive my trauma in front of the entire world, and I have seen my life picked apart by people on television, on Twitter, social media, other media, and in this body who have never met me or spoken with me."
Speaking of social media, plenty of celebs reacted to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony.
Alyssa Milano
Actress and activist Alyssa Milano attended Judge Kavanaugh's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as a guest of Sen. Dianne Feinstein to show her support for Dr. Ford. With a front-row seat to the testimony and the political drama, Milano shared her thoughts on Twitter as the hearing progressed.
"The @GOP were worried about the optics of a group of men questioning Dr. Ford about sexual assault," she tweeted, including a photo of the committee panel. "They should have been worried about the optics of a group of men with a lack of humanity not questioning Dr. Ford about sexual assault."
"Hello, @JeffFlake and @tedcruz. I beg of you not to give up your time and humanity by relinquishing your questioning to counsel, Milano tweeted, referencing the GOP-appointed prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell. "Show Dr. Ford respect and decency by asking her any questions you may have. Look her in the eye. Allow yourself to feel something."
During a break in Ford's testimony, Milano told ABC News, "I know how hard it is, and I know what she's had to go through to be here and present and answer those questions. So it was important for me to be able to support her, and to support survivors everywhere."
Samantha Bee
Full Frontal's Samantha Bee tweeted throughout Ford's testimony. She kicked off her commentary with a fiery rebuke of Chairman Chuck Grassley's opening remarks. "Today's hearing reminds us that to really tell a woman's story, one must begin with a 15-minute preamble from an elderly man about why her story is suspicious," she tweeted.
She didn't let up: "So far, two things are certain: 1) Christine Blasey Ford deserves every ounce of our respect, 2) This is the first time in Senate history that women have spoken more than men."
Then came the jokes during Kavanaugh's testimony. "It's terrible that the Senate has put beer on trial," the comedian tweeted, referencing the multiple times Kavanaugh mentioned beer. She also blasted Kavanaugh's demeanor during the hearing, tweeting: "Not sure we should have someone so emotional on the Supreme Court."
Emmy Rossum
Shameless star Emmy Rossum revealed her own experiences and hopes for the future while listening to Ford's testimony. "As a survivor of sexual assault, it's empowering to watch Dr. Ford stand there strong & vulnerable & speak her truth to the entire world," she tweeted. "No matter how this goes, we are disrupting a toxic system, and this is just the beginning for women, minorities and [LGBTQ]. Together."
Rossum also retweeted the thoughts of CNN contributor Ana Navarro who issued a warning to all men who commit sexual assault. "Regardless of whether Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, Dr. Ford coming forward was not for naught. She empowered victims. She put perpetrators on notice. She opened America's eyes as to what can happen to girls. She told her truth. She opened the door for others to tell their truth."
Sunny Hostin
The View's legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Sunny Hostin claimed she would take the Supreme Court nominee to trial based on Dr. Ford's powerful testimony. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Hostin said Ford's description of trauma was "very credible and very accurate" and reminded viewers that "there is no statute of limitations for attempted rape" in the state of Maryland, where the alleged assault took place in the summer of 1982.
"I have examined hundreds of witnesses on the witness stand," Hostin said. "She is extremely credible. She is extremely detail oriented. The fact also that she said, 'I am terrified to be here. I don't want to be here, but I feel that this is my civic duty.' I found her to be one of the most credible witnesses I think I've seen."
Dan Rather
Dan Rather served as the CBS Evening News anchor for more than two decades, so when an illustrious journalist speaks on a political matter, you listen.
Rather offered a thoughtful perspective on the hearings. "We must remember that this is ultimately not about passing judgement on Dr. Ford but on assessing Judge Kavanaugh's fitness for the Supreme Court," he tweeted. "Although I think that the ultimate judgement of history might end up landing heavily on how the GOP is handling this nomination."
"Kavanaugh, by his words, actions, and demeanor right now is either a man who has been horribly wronged or a stunning personification of white, male, privilege on display," Rather tweeted. "It is up for America and the Senators to decide which, especially in the wake of Dr. Ford's testimony."
As for Sen. Lindsey Graham's behavior during the proceedings, Rather tweeted, "I think Lindsey Graham's outbursts today are about interviewing for the job of Trump's next attorney general."
Stacey Dash
Clueless star Stacey Dash turned her back on Hollywood a long time ago, claiming she was blacklisted for being conservative. Dash become a Fox News contributor and ran, albeit unsuccessfully, in the congressional race for California's 44th District, so it should come as no surprise that during the hearing, her commentary attempted to poke holes in Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Ford's testimony.
Referencing GOP prosecutor Rachel Mitchell questioning Ford about her fear of flying, Dash tweeted: "Boy Dr. Ford sure does fly a lot for someone who had to delay the hearings because she was afraid to fly."
Dash expressed her support for the Supreme Court nominee. "Kavanaugh. We The People are praying for you. We believe you," she tweeted. "It breaks my heart to see what they are doing to him and his family. You are the monsters. You will fall."
Sally Field
Actress and national treasure Sally Field, who once protested the Iraq War during her 2007 Emmy acceptance speech, is no stranger to lending her voice to issues that are dear to her. Such was the case when Field took to Twitter to share her thoughts on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony. Unfortunately, the events described by Ford hit too close to home for the legendary actress.
"Out of the blue, a hero steps up and I'm in awe. I know the pain of these kinds of memories, Dr. Ford," the two-time Oscar winner tweeted. "Memories that are indelibly imprinted on your brain no matter how many years go by. I, like millions of women across America, are behind you and thank you profoundly."
Whitney Cummings
Comedian and 2 Broke Girls creator Whitney Cummings came out swinging. "Amazing that Dr. Ford is incorporating legit science into her testimony," Cummings tweeted. "Maybe after she testifies can explain global warming to everyone in there." Zing!
"If anyone is still confused about why women don't come forward about our sexual assaults, look no further than the smug, annoyed looks on the faces of the senate judiciary committee as Dr. Ford recounts her nightmare," Cummings tweeted.
She was back at it when it was Judge Kavanaugh's turn to speak. "The fact that Kavanaugh needs to read 'I never sexually assaulted anyone' off a piece of paper is kind of all we need to know," she quipped.
Shannon Purser
As the beloved Barb on Stranger Things, Shannon Purser became an internet sensation. She's moved on to another Netflix show, Sierra Burgess is a Loser, but she also finds time on social media to bring awareness to such issues as gun control, registering to vote, and representation in all forms.
During Ford's testimony, she left no room for doubt about her stance on the matter. "I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford," she tweeted. "Remember that when you say Dr. Ford is falsifying her testimony against Kavanaugh, you're saying that she is willingly placing herself and her family under attack and worldwide scrutiny for, what, attention?" she added. "Shame on you."
Debra Messing
We could say that Will & Grace star Debra Messing was angry watching Dr. Ford's testimony, but that would be an understatement. "OK MY CHEST IS EXPLODING," she tweeted. "The senators only get 5 MINUTES to ask questions on Thursday and it's only 1 ROUND????????????????????????????????????? This is a mockery! A sham! An INSULT. @ChuckGrassley @SenateMajLdr."
Messing proceeded to live-tweet the hearings in their totality and even moved over to Instagram to further her support for Dr. Ford. "God bless you Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. You're bravery & grace was seen by all. YOU were seen. And heard. You are the definition of a patriot," she captioned a photo of Dr. Ford.
Messing also replied to a tweet by a reporter for The Washington Post who said George W. Bush was calling moderate Republicans to whip votes for Judge Kavanaugh. Messing tweeted, "Why is Bush doing this?! He called for FBI INVESTION [sic] RE Anita Hill— WHY wouldn't he call for one now?! Why would he do Trump's bidding when the Bush family didn't support him at election time?"
Busy Phillips
"The word triggered is overused and also made into a joke (avocado toast is TRIGGERING! Ha!) but honestly, there's no other word to describe what I (and many people I know) have felt the last week," the I Feel Pretty actress tweeted. "But also here are some other words: heartbroken, unseen, unheard, traumatized."
Busy Phillips then shared a yearbook photo on Instagram. "This is me at 14. The age I was raped," she said. "It's taken me 25 years to say those words. I wrote about it in my book. I finally told my parents and sister about it 4 months ago. Today is the day we are silent no more. All of us. I'm scared to post this. I can't imagine what Dr. Ford is feeling right now."
Ashley Judd
Actress Ashley Judd has been at the forefront of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, having sued disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for defamation and sexual harassment. As a survivor of sexual assault herself, Judd weighed in on why Dr. Ford may not be able to remember every detail of her past. "I do NOT know how I got home after I was raped at 15," Judd tweeted. "No memory of it. Neither does she."
The actress also directed anger at GOP senators who chose to hire a prosecutor to question Ford instead of asking questions themselves. "I feel very disheartened every time a republican abdicates their Committe [sic] responsibility and does not engage with [Ford]," Judd tweeted. "She is working so hard and staying so present and these guys come across like cowards to me. They won't work as hard as [Ford] is."
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay has spent almost 20 years investigating sex crimes as Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, so we suspected she'd have some thoughts on the matter. "#BelieveSurvivors #SupportSurvivors #IBelieveDrBlaseyFord," the actress tweeted. "Sending strength and courage and self-care to survivors today, as I carry you and your stories in my heart. #YouMatter."
Ironically, the season premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit the night of Ford's testimony. After it aired, Hargitay discussed the episode's timely and topical message to all her fans. "Tonight's ep of #SVU discussed the destructive effects of toxic masculinity," she tweeted. "But there is strength in vulnerability, power in sensitivity. We must examine the gender roles we've been conditioned to perform. And to survivors: u r not alone. U matter, what happened to u matters."
Dave Foley
Dave Foley, stand-up comedian and co-founder of the comedy group The Kids in the Hall, did not mince words about the controversy. "I do not want Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court because I want my daughter to have the same freedom to control her own body that her mother has grown up with," he tweeted. "That was enough. I'm grateful to Dr. Ford for her courage, sad that it was necessary, sad it happened to her."
Foley appeared to grow more upset as the day wore on. "GOP, in straw clutching desperation, point to holes in Dr. Ford's testimony, that they refused to allow an investigation to fill, as disqualifying her whole testimony," he tweeted, calling Sen. Lindsey Graham "a scurrilous, political hack with no moral compass."