Ever since the election results were announced early Wednesday morning, people across the country have been coping with the news that Donald Trump is the president-elect. While some celebrities shared their disappointment, others are advocating for people to come together. And of course, there are those famous people who support Trump. In a confusing and since-deleted tweet, The Office's Jenna Fischer seemingly stood up for Trump's supporters. While she has since issued an apology on Twitter, it's a surprising move that will likely raise your eyebrows.
Based on a screen grab a user posted to Twitter, Fischer allegedly wrote, "Trump supporters: Your vote was for change. Don't let the racists and misogynists encapsulate you. Be louder. Speak out against the hate." She seemed to be saying that the supporters who may have racist or misogynistic tendencies don't have to represent the whole group. But at the same time, that statement is easy to misinterpret. Regardless of what exactly she meant, the backlash was swift. She then posted,
I've been pretty bad at tweeting lately. I'm just a regular person trying to process my deep grief and confusion and desire to find peace.
Fischer also individually responded with personal apologies to fans on Twitter. To one, she wrote, "I'm so sorry. It was not my intention to support anything other than healing. Asking goodness to be louder than the hate that got us here."
In another message, she tried to explain herself further and wrote, "I don't understand. I'm asking people to stand up against hate. Why does this make you mad?" Although she may not see it, it's understandable that people were offended. While she was probably trying to differentiate Trump supporters from racists and misogynists, those same supporters did elect a man with known racist and misogynistic traits. He's the same guy who wants to build a wall against Mexico and openly admitted on tape that he helps himself to women's bodies. So yes, the candidate's words and actions are problematic. And by supporting him, in some ways, it can be viewed as condoning or accepting such offensive sentiments.
Considering Fischer retweeted inspiring messages from Hillary Clinton earlier in the same day, it's unclear which side she was on in the election. And while I applaud the idea of trying to bring people together and squash hate, this definitely was a misdirected attempt at doing so. The good news here is that at least she apologized — it can be a learning experience, right?
