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.
If only there was a succinct turn of phrase these kids could have used to inform their parents they were not desirous of their life path… https://t.co/cxOTDI5J1B
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) March 12, 2019
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
Operation Varsity Blues 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I guess they're are like, "Hey, even though we're the FBI, we still know how to have a good time."
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) March 12, 2019
The comedian poked fun at the FBI operation taking its name from the 1999 football comedy.
A24
Marion would never pic.twitter.com/CRdN8z8hsy
— A24 (@A24) March 12, 2019
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
BREAKING NEWS: ENTRANCE INTO COLLEGE UNJUST, TILTED IN FAVOR OF WHITE KIDS WITH RICH PARENTS.
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) March 12, 2019
The host of the satirical news show “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” tweeted a not-so-shocking breaking-news headline.
Brian Koppelman
As we are all processing the insane advantage money gave some in the college process, it’s worth noting the far greater crime: some folks, like me, graduated with no debt. My dad was rich and generous enough to pay. That advantage is incalculable. Gave me so much life choice.
— Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) March 12, 2019
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
all the people involved in this college scam should have gathered their money and started a small elite college where Lori Loughlin teaches a class on smiling
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) March 12, 2019
The “Girls” creator and star offered her typical sardonic take on the scam.
Ben Dreyfuss
https://twitter.com/bendreyfuss/status/1105488904579309568
The writer and actor tweeted this sarcastic quip about his father Richard Dreyfuss.
Travon Free
When you gotta break aunt Becky out of jail. pic.twitter.com/ouwPjstDnV
— Travon Free (@Travon) March 12, 2019
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.
I’m learning some new ones as we speak. Stay tuned. https://t.co/ftJjYtMUxt
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 12, 2019
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.”