‘Devastated and Powerless’: Celebrities Mourn as Bernie Sanders Drops Out of the Race

I feel so hopeless and devastated and powerless. #BernieIsOurHope #BernieDropOut

— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) April 8, 2020

Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman said she was “heartbroken” about Sanders’ decision.

“In all this darkness, he made me believe that people, together, could be the light,” she tweeted. “He continues to be an inspiration. And he’ll never stop fighting for us. Thank you, Bernie. For me, you’re right up there w Mr. Rogers.”

Wow. I’m heartbroken about Bernie. In all this darkness, he made me believe that people, together, could be the light. He continues to be an inspiration. And he’ll never stop fighting for us.
Thank you, Bernie. For me, you’re right up there w Mr. Rogers.💔♥️

— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) April 8, 2020

Actor John Cusack said in a tweet, “So Wall Street big pharma insurence cartels – won again – Consolidating their awesome power to derail a working people’s movement.”

So Wall Street big pharma insurence cartels – won again –
Consolidating their awesome power to derail a working people’s movement.
But the fight continues –

— John Cusack (@johncusack) April 8, 2020

He went on to lash out at media figures who criticized Sanders, saying, “To the hired bulls— strain of journalists – who did oligarchs bidding so gleefully smearing sanders. u know who you & ur editors are – the type George Bernard Shaw described as ‘unable to tell the difference between a bicycle accident and the end of civilization.’ Congrats. … When yr on yr deathbed I’m sure you’ll be proud u smeared new deal politics & licked the boots of the billionaires.”

According to Mediaite, former California Democratic congressional candidate and far-left alternative media mogul Cenk Uygur went so far as to suggest the self-professed democratic socialist senator’s departure from the race could mean only one thing for America: “four years of darkness” under Biden or incumbent Republican President Donald Trump.

Other supporters, however, responded less sensationally, wishing Sanders well and thanking him for working to shift the Democratic Party platform further to the progressive left in both the 2020 and 2016 presidential primary cycle.

Actress and prominent abortion advocate Alyssa Milano was one such figure, writing to Sanders directly on Twitter to tell him his work would influence a generation of left-wing activists.

“You’ve forever changed the party & made us reflect upon all the ways we need to do more & be better,” Milano wrote to Sanders. “Your efforts will be reflected in every advocate and activist for generations to come and will inspire policy that will make the world a better place. Thank you.”

.@BernieSanders, You’ve forever changed the party & made us reflect upon all the ways we need to do more & be better. Your efforts will be reflected in every advocate and activist for generations to come and will inspire policy that will make the world a better place. Thank you.

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 8, 2020

Hollywood hairstylist and “Queer Eye” host Jonathan Van Ness was one of the first supporters to sound off on the announcement, according to Fox News, expressing hopes a fractured party would still come together to defeat Trump.

“Thank you for fighting for everyone Senator Sanders,” Van Ness tweeted. “To all of his supporters, thank you for caring & fighting and I know how hard this day is for you.”

“I hope we can all come together & defeat Trump,” he said.

Thank you for fighting for everyone Senator Sanders 🏳️‍🌈💗 @BernieSanders To all of his supporters, thank you for caring & fighting and I know how hard this day is for you. I hope we can all come together & defeat Trump.

— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) April 8, 2020

Others in Hollywood shared similar sentiments.