Actress Katherine Heigl confronted criticism from fans after attending an animal rescue fundraiser held at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of Donald Trump.
Heigl addressed the backlash in a statement after some social media users expressed outrage that the event took place at Trump’s home in Palm Beach, Florida.
“Animals don’t vote. The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter,” Heigl told Page Six. “They are completely at the mercy of us, and they have no voice of their own.”
“This event was about animal advocacy — something that has always been deeply personal to me,” the actress added. “Anyone who knows me knows that protecting animals is one of my greatest passions.”
Heigl attended a fundraising event titled “Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting Big Dog Ranch Rescue,” which was held Sunday at Mar-a-Lago. The event supported a nonprofit focused on rescuing and rehoming dogs.
Organizers said the fundraiser brought in more than $5.5 million. In a post on Instagram, the group described the gathering as a celebration of animal advocacy and community support.
“From heartfelt moments to dazzling fashion, spirited auctions, and the incredible dogs at the heart of it all, the weekend was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when passion and purpose come together,” the organization wrote.
The event was co-chaired by Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the president. Photos from the fundraiser showed Heigl posing with several attendees, including former Washington, D.C., prosecutor Jeanine Pirro and celebrity dog trainer Cesar Millan.
Despite the charitable focus of the event, Heigl faced criticism online from some users who objected to her appearance at a venue associated with Trump. The actress responded directly to several comments on her social media page.
When one user said they would no longer support her, Heigl responded simply, “Bye!”
Another commenter suggested there were other animal charities that were not affiliated with Trump. Heigl replied by arguing that helping animals should not depend on political disagreements.
“Really? Line in the sand?” she wrote. “So if you saw a dog on the street that was being tortured and set on fire and someone with a MAGA hat was trying to put out the fire you’d walk away?”
“I’m pretty sure that sentiment makes you the bad guy… not the republican trying to save the abused animal,” she added.
Responding to another comment accusing her of using the event for personal gain, Heigl rejected the claim.
“Really? So I’m using animal advocacy to what? Line my pockets?” she wrote. “Seems to be costing me more than I can make… but that’s ok.”
Heigl continued to emphasize that her participation was motivated by concern for animals rather than politics.
“As a society, we should all come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent,” she said. “This should not be a polarizing issue.”
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