Amanda Seyfried's comments about Charlie Kirk resulted in her hiring a bodyguard
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Celebrity, US News, Politics
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Celebrity, US News, Politics
Amanda Seyfried has been forced to take extra precautions since the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was fatally shot last September while hosting a debate at Utah Valley University. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, had been positioned on a nearby rooftop, having planned the politically motivated murder for several weeks.
The 31-year-old's death proved divisive at the time, with conservative voters who aligned with his extreme traditional beliefs mourning his loss, and liberals who found his views polarising and discriminatory celebrating the news.
In the latter category was actress Amanda Seyfried.
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In the days following the assassination, the Mamma Mia star took to Instagram, where she re-shared a meme that read: "You can't invite violence to the dinner table and be shocked when it starts eating."
On another post, Seyfried, 40, branded the far-right podcaster 'hateful'.
She later wrote on a Story: "I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and ALSO very much agree that Charlie Kirk’s murder was absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable."
Despite standing by her comments in the wake of severe criticism at the time, she has since been forced to hire a bodyguard to protect her.
Speaking to British GQ, The Housemaid favourite doubled down on her remarks once again while simultaneously admitting she hadn't expected the severity of the condemnation she experienced.
"A, I'm allowed to f*****g voice my feelings, and B, do it in a way that's not unkind necessarily," Seyfriend emphasised, however. "But there's just an outsized fear and hatred and impulse to bash and to tear down.
"And I experienced a very small fraction of that."
She continued: "I want my kids to be able to feel safe to voice their opinions as long as they're not harmful.
"So I'm like, 'What do I do? What do I say?', and then all of a sudden I find myself with a f*****g bodyguard at the airport, and I'm like, 'This is crazy'."
When Seyfried was initially forced to address backlash last year, she shared a passionate statement with Who What Wear.
"I’m not f**king apologising for that. I mean, for f**k's sake, I commented on one thing," the Dear John actress stated. "I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty damn factual, and I’m free to have an opinion, of course."
She went on to explain: "I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and also very much agree that Charlie Kirk’s murder was absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable. No one should have to experience this level of violence."
The mother-of-two continued: "This country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings. Can we agree on that at least?"
Seyfried also alleged at the time that some of her remarks had been taken out of context.
"Thank God for Instagram," she said. "I was able to give some clarity, and it was about getting my voice back because I felt like it had been stolen and re-contextualised - which is what people do, of course."