Celebrities mourn death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: 'We did not deserve you'
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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the legendary trailblazing political and feminist icon, died Friday at age 87 due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. The news prompted a wave of tributes on social media from celebrities, politicians, and more mourning her death and celebrating her life and achievements as the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and as a fierce advocate for gender equality.
“Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in a statement. "We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her — a tireless and resolute champion of justice."
And Betsy West and Julie Cohen, directors of the 2018 documentary RBG, said in a statement to EW: "Like so many Americans, we are crushed by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Even had she not become a Supreme Court Justice, Ginsburg earned a place in history for what she did to win equality for American women. When we asked her several years ago how she wanted to be remembered, she said with characteristic modesty, 'Just as someone who did whatever she could, with whatever limited talent she had, to move society along in the direction I would like it to be for my children and grandchildren.'"
Read more reactions below:
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end, through her cancer, with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals. That’s how we remember her. But she also left instructions for how she wanted her legacy to be honored. My statement: https://t.co/Wa6YcT5gDi
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 19, 2020
We have lost one of the most extraordinary Justices ever to serve on the Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and landmark opinions moved us closer to a more perfect union. And her powerful dissents reminded us that we walk away from our Constitution’s promise at our peril. pic.twitter.com/dDECiBxae6
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) September 19, 2020
Justice Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me. There will never be another like her. Thank you RBG.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 19, 2020
Tonight we mourn, we honor, and we pray for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her family. But we also recommit to fight for her legacy.
Doug and I send our heartfelt prayers to Jane and James, and the entire Ginsburg family, particularly on this holy day of Rosh Hashanah. pic.twitter.com/SNyqZCznfv— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 19, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us. She was an American hero, a giant of legal doctrine, and a relentless voice in the pursuit of that highest American ideal: Equal Justice Under Law. May her memory be a blessing to all people who cherish our Constitution and its promise.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 19, 2020
Ruthie was my friend and I will miss her terribly. The t-shirts simply labeled “RBG” made her notorious. But it was her wit, her tenaciousness, and her skill as a jurist that made her an icon.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 19, 2020
I am so, so saddened by the news that Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed. Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer and an extraordinary jurist who devoted her life to advancing the causes of equality and justice. We are in her debt.
May her memory be a blessing to us all.— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) September 19, 2020
Amen. https://t.co/GAesE0mJhr
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) September 19, 2020
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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of the great justices in modern American history and her passing is a tremendous loss to our country. She will be remembered as an extraordinary champion of justice and equal rights.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 19, 2020
Her rest is earned. It is our turn to fight.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 19, 2020
My heart is broken. RBG, we did not deserve you.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 18, 2020
The way to honor her life and her legacy is to respect her dying wish, which was to ask that her seat not be filled until a new president is sworn in. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, for all you have given us all these decades, I stand ready to fight for your final request.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 18, 2020
Just heard the worst news... so sad! Ruth Bader Ginsburg you will live in history forever. May you rest in peace. 😢🙏😢
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) September 19, 2020
One of one.
💙 pic.twitter.com/Wz7MHyQpJd— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) September 18, 2020
If there is a God, may She bless and keep RBG.
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) September 18, 2020
The great Zora Neale Hurston said, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”
This year is profound in that it is asking AND answering.
As we remember the wonder that was #RuthBaderGinsburg, let us bend more toward justice with the moral arc of the universe. pic.twitter.com/EZLmbcjNp9— Be A King (@BerniceKing) September 19, 2020
This is it. It’s the fucking fight of our lives.
— Samantha Bee (@iamsambee) September 19, 2020
Ruth😞Compassion and Mercy. Add justice. Gonna miss you.
— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) September 18, 2020
We owe her.#RIPRBG
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) September 18, 2020
RIP Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You will he missed! Y’all keep saying stupid shit like you ain’t voting or it don’t matter. That shit will matter very soon!! REAL TALK!! #VOTEVOTEVOTE pic.twitter.com/0n308Em7PU
— Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) September 19, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the kind of scholar and patriot you get excited about explaining to your kids. The kind of person who you say “who knows, one day you could be HER”. I hope you rest well, RBG, you must have been tired from changing the world.
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) September 19, 2020
Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish was that her seat would not be filled until a new president is installed! Senate Democrats, do not back down. You have a tough fight ahead but our future is on the line! No SCOTUS appointment before the election!!!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) September 19, 2020
Gut wrenching loss...
Could 2020 be any more brutal and cruel?#RIPRuthBaderGinsburg pic.twitter.com/o5LlLvFLzJ— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) September 19, 2020
A shock. A sadness. A great loss. The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves a hole in a nation already reeling. She is an American hero, in every sense. We can honor her by joining to carry forth her legacy of equality, empathy, and justice. May she Rest in Peace.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) September 18, 2020
"Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." RIP, RBG pic.twitter.com/HLtKG7qdnp
— Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr) September 19, 2020
#RIPRBG 💔
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) September 18, 2020
To Ruth.
— Uzo Aduba (@UzoAduba) September 18, 2020
Truly and utterly gutted. And grateful. And in awe. And just so devastated. An icon and a hero. #RBG https://t.co/pGv9R8Qvxr
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) September 18, 2020
RIP RBG. Gutted. Sad.
Grateful for all she did. And very very scared.— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) September 18, 2020
I know she tried to hang on, for all our sakes. She hung in there so hard.#RBG
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) September 19, 2020
we will fight in your incredible honor.
thank you for fighting.
my heart is fucking broken. pic.twitter.com/TxGOs1QJb8— Beanie Feldstein (@BeanieFeldstein) September 18, 2020
No one fought harder. We must continue in her footsteps. She refused to rest up until the bitter end. Neither should we. RIP the great, great, GREAT RBG. https://t.co/yaHwB59xOq
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) September 18, 2020
RBG was never afraid and neither should we. Choose fight over fear.
— Paula Pell (@perlapell) September 18, 2020
She was a gift to humanity. She fought with all she had every single day of her life and the tribute we pay her is to do the same. Fight for our country. Stand up for our democracy. Use our voice and fight for what’s right every single day. #RBG
— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) September 19, 2020
What a tremendous loss. Thank you, RBG for your life’s work. Rest in power. pic.twitter.com/BFTC8ZIYqy
— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) September 19, 2020
#Vote in her honor. pic.twitter.com/enZqBZlAhP
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 19, 2020
Devastated. Grateful. I know for a fact that my life as a woman and an American is better because of her work and brilliance. #RIPRBG pic.twitter.com/OCSwoZCLI8
— Connie Britton (@conniebritton) September 19, 2020
May the Lord see Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to her well-earned rest. May we continue fight for Justice here with her passion, brilliance and extraordinary mischief. Until good is done. #RBG
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) September 19, 2020
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RIP Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is an immense loss. And the fate of the country should not rest on one woman’s shoulders however giant they were. I’m so sorry for her family and friends.
— roxane gay (@rgay) September 18, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s body isn’t even cold and Mitch McConnell is dancing on her grave. This is war. Dems have powerful weapons. Now is the time to use them.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) September 19, 2020
Rest well RBG..... you did what needed to be done. You walked the walk and your legacy speaks for itself. Thank you for dedicating your life to serve others and we will honor you by continuing to fight for the equality we all deserve. #RBG #RuthBaderGinsburg #RIP #Legend pic.twitter.com/aNIGKNHXAz
— Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) September 19, 2020
— Stevie Nicks (@StevieNicks) September 19, 2020
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