For ads-free news, click here.
Pop star John Legend urged his hometown of Springfield, Ohio, to embrace the “challenges” of a large influx of Haitian immigrants while assuring residents their pets are safe. I
Legend, 45, addressed the issue in an Instagram video after Springfield was mentioned during the recent presidential debate.
“Nobody’s eating cats or dogs,” John Legend, the two-time Emmy winner, firmly stated, dismissing viral statements from former President Donald Trump and firsthand accounts from Springfield residents. He urged, “How about we love one another?” identifying himself as “John R. Stevens from Springfield.”
Legend noted that while his hometown of Springfield has seen an “influx of Haitian immigrants,” the city’s population had been shrinking for decades due to a lack of opportunities. “When I was there, we had around 75,000 people, but recently it’s dropped to about 60,000,” he said. The Haitians, who “came legally,” have helped fill jobs, though he acknowledged the challenges of a 25% population increase. Despite having moved away years ago, Legend even updated his Instagram handle to reflect his Springfield roots.
View this post on Instagram
John Legend acknowledged Springfield’s “growing pains” from an influx of people with a “new language, new culture,” and “new dietary preferences.” He compared it to past immigrants chasing the American dream and urged residents to show the same grace to Haitian migrants they’d want for their ancestors.
Reactions to Legend’s statement showcase many feel Legend is entirely out of touch with the reality of Springfield residents; see some of them below:
Actor John Legend urges the people of Springfield, Ohio, to embrace their Haitian neighbors, calling it the Christian thing to do.
With a net worth of $100M, Legend has voiced his support for the Haitian immigrants settling in his hometown.
I think the Christian thing to do… pic.twitter.com/PxN0nMLTFW
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) September 13, 2024
Hey everyone, this is @johnlegend.
This is John Legend’s Beverly Hills home.
You should totally listen to John Legend lecture you on his hometown of Springfield, and how 15,000 Haitian immigrants into a town of 60,000 is totally normal.
He’s just like you.
Except he doesn’t… https://t.co/ljTiSmdDIQ pic.twitter.com/I5B8sfNWQw
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) September 13, 2024
John Legend says Springfield, Ohio is FINE. That settles it for me. I’m gonna listen to the zillionaire who doesn’t live there over my family members who do. Twitter needs a “GTFOH” button.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) September 13, 2024
Springfield residents turn on John Legend after Ohio town’s most famous son urges them to embrace 15,000 Haitian migrants … from comfort of his Beverly Hills mansion | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/WYo5iJCzLs
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 13, 2024
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
