At a Glance
- Ellen DeGeneres posted two Instagram messages about the Jan. 7 ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis
- DeGeneres called Minneapolis “the happiest city in America” and said she is “so sorry for what is happening”
- Good, 37, died from a gunshot to the head after agent Jonathan Ross fired into her SUV
- Why it matters: The celebrity’s rare political statement amplifies growing outrage over the fatal encounter
Ellen DeGeneres broke her usual silence on politics Sunday, Jan. 18, with a pair of Instagram posts mourning the ICE shooting death of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good and praising the city where she filmed her 2024 Netflix special.
The Posts
DeGeneres, 67, uploaded a video and a photo repost in honor of Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent nine days earlier.
“Hey everybody, I just wanted to say, I am so sorry for what is happening in Minneapolis and our country, really, but specifically Minneapolis right now because that’s where I shot my last stand-up special and everybody there couldn’t have been more lovely,” DeGeneres said in the clip.
She added, “I shot it there because they say it’s the happiest city in America. And I found that to be true. So my thoughts and my prayers are going out to everyone, and I’m proud of everyone who’s protesting peacefully, and I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt just for protesting, for doing what you should be doing.”
The second post showed Good’s picture and carried a caption that DeGeneres reposted from author Marianne Williamson. “I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried,” DeGeneres wrote above Williamson’s words.
Williamson’s caption had introduced a letter from Good’s wife, Becca Good, originally published by Minnesota Public Radio on Jan. 9:
> “If anyone wonders about the role of spirituality in politics, this is it. It’s not just a letter, it’s a reminder. We honor both Renee and Becca by taking these words into our hearts and trying to live them day by day.”
Becca’s letter described her wife as kind and sparkling:
- “Above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her”
- “Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled… she had sparkles coming out of her pores”
- “Renee was made of sunshine”
The Shooting
Good, 37, died Jan. 7 after being shot in the head while driving with Becca and the couple’s dog. She had just dropped off their six-year-old at school.
Footage released Jan. 9 by Alpha News, described as being from the agent’s perspective, shows the moments before the gunfire:
- Good’s SUV sits parked perpendicular to the road
- The agent circles the vehicle while filming
- Good says, “That’s fine, dude. I’m not mad at you”
- Becca records on her phone, noting the license plate
- A voice yells, “Get out of the car. Get out of the f—ing car”
- Good reverses, turns toward the roadway
- Becca urges, “Drive, baby, drive – drive!”
- Multiple gunshots ring out
Bystander videos show agent Jonathan Ross, masked, firing into the driver’s-side window. The SUV then crashes.
Continued Federal Action
Since Good’s death, ICE operations have continued across Minnesota. On Monday, Jan. 19, DeGeneres posted again, this time sharing a protest video captioned simply: “Hold on.”
Key Takeaways
- DeGeneres praised Minneapolis residents and voiced support for peaceful protesters
- The shooting occurred during a morning school drop-off, leaving a six-year-old without a parent
- Video evidence from multiple angles captured the fatal confrontation
- The comedian’s statements add celebrity visibility to local anger over the incident
