Celebrities took to Twitter on Tuesday to weigh in on the college admissions scandal dominating headlines, after the FBI found that parents allegedly spent as much as millions of dollars in bribes to help admit their children into elite universities. Dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues,” the investigation has implicated 50 parents in the scheme, including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. Below are some celebrity reactions to the scandal.
The “Varsity Blues” star took the opportunity to reference his movie, which shares its name with the FBI investigation. Fans of the film will recognize that he’s referring to the scene where his character tells his father, “I don’t want your life.”
W. Kamau Bell
The comedian poked fun at the FBI operation taking its name from the 1999 football comedy.
A24
The indie studio shared a gif of a scene from “Ladybird.” Unlike the parents embroiled in the scandal, Marion (Laurie Metcalf) is a working-class mom who worries that her daughter’s college aspirations will be a financial burden to the family.
Samantha Bee
The host of the satirical news show “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” tweeted a not-so-shocking breaking-news headline.
Brian Koppelman
The co-creator and showrunner of “Billions” wrote about the privilege of hailing from a wealthy family. With writing credits on “Ocean’s Thirteen,” “Rounders,” and “Billions,” Koppelman knows a thing or two about high-stakes illegal money schemes.
Lena Dunham
The “Girls” creator and star offered her typical sardonic take on the scam.
Ben Dreyfuss
The writer and actor tweeted this sarcastic quip about his father Richard Dreyfuss.
Travon Free
The comedian and “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” writer shared a meme from “Full House.” Loughlin played Aunt Becky in the family sitcom.
Donald Trump Jr.
The president’s eldest son re-tweeted Huffman, who was charged for her alleged involvement in the scandal. The actress’ tweet takes on a new meaning in light of the recent allegations.
Celebrity reactions weren’t relegated to just Twitter. “Freaks and Geeks” alum and “Busy Tonight” host Busy Philipps, and “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway offered their opinions on the scandal to Variety on the red carpet at the Marie Claire Change Makers event in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
Soloway said, “It’s a moment of time where privilege can no longer go unchecked. Everything’s changing and this kind of story coming out right now has more resonance than it would’ve had years ago, because people are really thinking about, talking about what white privilege is.”
“I do have a 10-year-old daughter and a five-year-old, and I know, especially in New York and L.A. and Boston and these bigger cities, there can be this frenzy and this pressure put on the entire family to get them into the best schools, because it means something can change your life,” Philipps commented. “You get put into a different social situation. But for me, it’s a little unfathomable, to go to the lengths that we’re seeing people have gone to.”
She continued, “It’s extremely surprising to me, because the idea of doing something so morally reprehensible, it would never occur to me just to send my kid to college. I’m able to say this from a place of privilege, because I didn’t graduate college because I left school for work.”
