After Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a “religious freedom” bill into law late last week, Hollywood has been descending on the bill, calling it a “new hate law” and decrying it as living “in the past.”
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act says the government can’t “substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” and that individuals who feel like their religious beliefs have been or could be “substantially burdened” use this law to fight lawsuits. Opponents to the law insist it will lead to individuals and businesses discriminating against the LGBT community.
Pence told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that he stands by the law and says it represents “a fundamental protection for individuals.” He criticized the debate of the law as “shameless rhetoric about my state all over the internet.”
Here are the celebrities who Pence would probably suggest were using “shameless rhetoric” about the Indiana law:
Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the television show “Family Guy,” slammed Indiana for living “in the past”:
Hey Indiana & states that discriminate against gays: if you wanna live in the past, fine. But when we get spaceships, no spaceships for you.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) March 29, 2015
Singer Miley Cyrus called Pence an “a**hole” on Instagram.
The openly gay television host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres tweeted “for anyone who is refused service under #Indiana’s new law, you deserve better.”
For anyone who is refused service under #Indiana's new law, you deserve better. Acceptance and progress take time. But they always arrive.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 28, 2015
Star Trek celebrity George Takei cheered on Twitter that prominent mayors were doing a travel boycott of Indiana.
Mayors of Seattle and San Francisco cancel all city travel as part of #BoycottIndiana
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 29, 2015
Actor Mark Ruffalo called the law “Indiana’s new hate law”:
Gov. Mike Pence wants Indiana's new hate law to be 'clarified' http://t.co/5DailtCXA2
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) March 29, 2015
Actor Ashton Kutcher also had his say.
Indiana are you also going to allow Christian establishments to ban Jews from coming in? Or Vice Versa? Religious freedom??? #OUTRAGE
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) March 27, 2015
Indiana? Seriously? Really? Bravo Salesforce for taking a stand. @benioff Hope more companies follow. http://t.co/g8K9DNZjps
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) March 27, 2015
Even tech giants weighed in on the law.
Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted Friday that he was “disappointed” by the law.
Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana's new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015
Indiana-based Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle tweeted support to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff for warning the “impact” of the law on employees and customers.
@Benioff As one of your largest Indiana based customers, Angie's List supports you. Thank you for taking an interest.
— Bill Oesterle (@billo317) March 27, 2015
PayPal cofounder Max Levchin called it “a signal that discrimination is welcome” in Indiana.
What is happening in Indiana is pretty unbelievable. However it’s dressed up, it’s a signal that discrimination is welcome in this state.
— Max Levchin (@mlevchin) March 26, 2015
