Imagine fleeing a country you feel is losing its mind, only to find yourself battling… the weather? That's the predicament Ellen DeGeneres might be facing. She famously left the US after Trump's election, seeking refuge in the UK. But will Britain's notoriously gloomy weather send her running back?
Now, before anyone accuses me of being anti-immigrant, let me be clear: I'm a Brit living abroad, and I welcome wealthy newcomers who want to buy up our stately homes. My only request? Embrace the culture! Don't try to impose your foreign ways on us. And yes, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, I'm looking at you.
This California couple arrived in the UK just before the 2016 US election. When Trump won, they declared they were staying put on the "saner side of the Atlantic." It seems the "one in, one out" immigration policies are only for those arriving in small boats, not private jets. They purchased a lavish home in the Cotswolds, and DeGeneres charmed the locals by proclaiming, "Everything here is just better." She said this during a public appearance. But here's where it gets controversial... Is it really that simple?
Of course, it's easy to be enthusiastic about Britain during a sunny summer. But now that winter has arrived, bringing its signature gloom, rumors are swirling that the fair-weather expats are planning a return to the US. According to the Mail on Sunday (grain of salt advised!), they miss their friends and can't bear the thought of another British winter. Homesickness is understandable, but it does seem a bit… ironic, doesn't it? Fleeing what you perceive as creeping fascism, only to return because you're cold? As my mother would say, "Just put on another jumper, Ellen!" Abandon those strange American notions about perpetual sunshine!
DeGeneres and De Rossi aren't the only celebrities who seem to be rethinking their anti-Trump stance. Ever since Trump entered the political arena, Hollywood has resembled an airport departure lounge, with countless stars announcing their impending exits. But and this is the part most people miss... very few actually followed through.
In 2016, comedian Amy Schumer told Newsnight she would "move to Spain or somewhere" if Trump won. She later claimed it was a joke. To be fair, discerning Schumer's humorous intent can be challenging. Miley Cyrus also played the "just kidding" card to explain her changed plans. In March 2016, she vowed to leave if Trump became president, adding, "I don't say things I don't mean!" She later clarified that she does, in fact, say things she doesn't mean. Barbra Streisand, meanwhile, threatened to leave before both the 2016 and 2024 elections, but remains firmly planted in the US.
However, a few US celebrities have actually made the leap and seem to have no plans to return. Courtney Love, who has lived in London since around 2019, is planning to become a British citizen. While not solely due to Trump 2.0, she called the political situation in the US "frightening." Around the same time, comedian Rosie O'Donnell revealed she had moved her family to Ireland, citing concerns for her non-binary child, Clay. "When you know it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back," she said.
While it's easy to mock self-deporting celebrities, many of whom are insulated from the effects of Trumpism by their wealth, O'Donnell's departure was arguably sensible. She has a long-standing feud with Trump, who even considered stripping her of her US citizenship. While legally questionable, when a leader with a cult following targets you in a country with escalating political violence, feeling worried for your safety is understandable.
There may not be a mass celebrity exodus yet, but the US does appear to be experiencing a brain drain because of Trump. A Nature poll found that 75% of researchers in the US are considering leaving, and international students are losing interest in studying stateside. Furthermore, experts in authoritarianism are seeing the writing on the wall and packing their bags. "We Study Fascism, and We’re Leaving the US," read the headline of a New York Times video op-ed by three Yale professors before they left for Canada. A chilling message indeed. But nothing, perhaps, compared with a damp winter in the Cotswolds.
So, the big question: Is fleeing political turmoil and seeking a better life a valid reason to relocate? Or should celebrities, with their platforms and resources, stay and fight for change? And is a bit of bad weather really enough to make someone abandon their principles? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
