Often times, these celebrities are too passionate in fighting for the causes they believe in to the point they experience a run in with the law while protesting and get handcuffed on the spot.
- Jun 7, 2020
AceShowbiz - Celebrities often gave them all to fight for the causes they support. They didn't hesitate to stand side-by-side with others to protest and even led them on the front lines to advocate for the issues they're passionate about, including Supreme Court nominations, climate change and most recently Black Lives Matter movement, which arrived in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Often times, they were too passionate in fighting for the issues to the point they had a run in with the law and got handcuffed on the spot. Some of them were caught tresspassing while protesting and some others were arrested for misdemeanor offense.
Check out the list of some stars who were arrested while protesting for various causes.
1. Jane Fonda
Actress and climate change activist Jane Fonda is no stranger to getting arrested while protesting. Even after being arrested on the steps of the United States Capitol on October 11, 2019, the 81-year-old actress claimed at the time that she planned to protest for the next 14 Fridays.
"I'm going to take my body, which is kind of famous and popular right now because of the [Netflix] series ['Grace and Frankie'] and I'm going to go to D.C. and I'm going to have a rally every Friday," she said to The Washington Post. "It'll be called 'Fire Drill Friday.' And we're going to engage in civil disobedience and we're going to get arrested every Friday."
2. Amy Schumer
Being pregnant didn't stop Amy Schumer from joining a protest for the cause she believes in. The comedian and actress was among those who marched against Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination in October 2018. She held a "We believe Anita Hill" sign and wearing a green top with the words, "This today, then #ERA" inscribed on the back.
In a video taken at the event, Amy firmly said, "Yes," to a police officer who asked her if she wanted to be arrested. The "I Feel Pretty" star was charged a $50 fine for the misdemeanor offense.
3. Steve-O
Steve-O was arrested after climbing a 100-foot construction crane in protest against SeaWorld in Los Angeles in 2015. Documenting the whole protest on Facebook Live broadcast, the "Jackass" star held an inflatable Shamu and a sign that read "SeaWorld Sucks". As if that was not enough, he also set off fireworks at the top of the crane.
That led him to getting arrested and being charged with two misdemeanors. Joking on the live stream, Steve-O said, "Anyone wanna bail me out of jail?" According to the reports, the MTV personality served just eight hours of his 30-day jail sentence before he was released.
4. Jake Paul
YouTube personality Jake Paul was among stars who joined protesters for Black Lives Matter movement in Arizona in the wake of the death of George Floyd. However, things apparently went uncontrolled as the 23-year-old was reportedly arrested after footage caught him unlawfully entering the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall.
Despite his denial, Scottsdale Police Department confirmed in a tweet that "Jake Paul was in attendance & remained inside after an unlawful assembly was declared & has been charged with Criminal Trespass & Unlawful Assembly" in May 30 riots. Seemingly making light of the matter, Jake responded to the report, "gimme my charges and let's put the focus back on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter."
5. Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley was arrested when she participated in a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline, an underground oil pipeline that crosses four states, in North Dakota October 2016. The "Big Little Lies" star was arrested for alleged criminal trespassing while protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline on Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation.
She and fellow demonstrators believed that the pipeline would destroy land sacred to Native Americans. Addressing the cause in an op-ed article for Time in the same month of the year, she wrote, "Whatever your cause is. Whatever your passion is. Whatever you care about most … none of your efforts or hard-earned opinions will matter when the planet and the people you’re fighting for have nothing left to show for it."
6. George Clooney
George Clooney was also one of those stars who had a run in with the law while protesting. Alongside his father Nick Clooney, the actor was arrested when he joined others in a protest outside of the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C. in 2012, as they tried to bring attention to the country's president provoking a crisis with his blockade of humanitarian aide.
"They were protesting the violence committed by the government of Sudan on its own innocent men, women and children," a representative for the actor/director said in a statement. "They were demanding they allow humanitarian aid into the country before it becomes the largest humanitarian crisis in the world."
7. Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski's run in with the law happened when she protested Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh alongside Schumer and more than 300 other people in 2018. Addressing her arrest, the model shared on Instagram alongside a picture of her proudly holding a 'Respect Female Existence or Expect Our Resistance' sign, "Today I was arrested protesting the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a man who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault."
"Men who hurt women can no longer be placed in positions of power. Kavanaugh's confirmation as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States is a message to women in this country that they do not matter. I demand a government that acknowledges, respects and supports women as much as it does men," Emily, who was charged a $50 fine for the misdemeanor offense, went on writing.
8. Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Nixon did her part in fighting for better public school funding. The "Sex and the City" star and the other demonstrators were arrested outside City Hall in New York City while campaigning for better public schools funding in 2002.
Explaining the protest, the former New York gubernatorial candidate said to the New York Times in 2013, "We marched on up, sat down and blocked the entrance. The police very politely asked us to move, and we declined. They pulled up the police van and put us in."
9. Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson had no regret about getting arrested back in 1996. The "Now You See Me" actor was arrested after he climbed the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California while protesting an anti-logging to save a 60,000-acre redwood grove in Northern California.
Defending his action, Woody shared, "I'll take all the heat that's thrown in my direction. What we did was right." He continued, "I spend a lot of my time in Los Angeles, where you can't breathe the air or swim in the water. We're fighting that. We're fighting for sustainable industry that does not destroy the environment."
10. Cole Sprouse
Jake Paul wasn't the only celebrity who got arrested while fighting for justice for black people in the wake of George Floyd's death. "Riverdale" star Cole Sprouse revealed on Instagram that he was arrested for peacefully protesting on May 31 in Santa Monica, California. He took to social media on June 1 to confirm reports he was detained by police for "standing in solidarity" with activists.
"I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement," he went on detailing.
11. Joaquin Phoenix
Jane Fonda's climate change protests doesn't stop after she was arrested multiple times. In January, Joaquin Phoenix joined her "Fire Drill Friday" protest to fight for the cause. He was among celebrities who faced arrest while joining Jane's crusades including Ted Danson, Catherine Keener, Rosanna Arquette and June Diane Raphael.
In the protest in D.C., Joaquin allegedly called out the meat and dairy industries for their role in the climate crisis. "I struggle so much with what I can do at times. There are things that I can’t avoid. I flew a plane out here. ... But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits, and I just want to urge all of you to join me in that, and you as well, Jane," he said in his speech. The "Joker" star was released on-site.
12. Jaime King
Jaime King joined the list of celebrities arrested during protests over the death of George Floyd . The Lemon Breeland of "Hart of Dixie" revealed on Twitter that she was "arrested for a peaceful protest" outside of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's home in Hancock Park to demand the lowering of the LAPD's fund.
In a follow-up tweet, Jaime shared that she and others who were arrested were treated badly by the police. "Currently still on the bus for over 4 hours. Took us from 77th precinct to San Pedro," she tweeted, before claiming that she and the other women detained have "no access to vital meds, bathrooms, bleeding through their pants. They are laughing at us."
