Ellen DeGeneres' Fatal Minneapolis ICE Shooting Reaction Sparks Comment War

Ellen DeGeneres is making headlines amid a tragedy in Minnesota, and the internet had thoughts almost immediately. The former talk show host addressed the fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The case has drawn national scrutiny and has even been compared to the 2020 death of George Floyd, as Good was killed less than a mile from where Floyd was murdered in May 2020. But while the killing continues to stir outrage and debate, the Justice Department has reportedly said it is not investigating Good’s death, a move critics have pointed out is a stark contrast to the federal response years ago after Floyd’s killing.

Ellen DeGeneres Says She’s 'So Sad' After Renee Nicole Good's Death

DeGeneres took to Instagram on Sunday, January 18, to share her reaction. “I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried,” she wrote before reposting a statement from Good’s wife, Becca Good, which read, in part, " On Wednesday, January 7, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns."

Becca Good added, "I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way."

DeGeneres's repost sparked a wave of commenters who criticized the comedian for not publicly reacting to the murder of far-right activist Charlie Kirk last fall, with people accusing her of selective outrage in the comments section. "WHERE IS THE POST FOR CHARLIE KIRK?" one user asked as another echoed, "Did Charlie Kirk’s assassination make you sad and angry too?"

As The Blast reported, Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing political activist and prominent MAGA figure, was killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was attending an outdoor campus debate organized by Turning Point USA, the conservative youth group he co-founded and led, and was known as a close ally of President Donald Trump.

Critics Say DeGeneres' Post Ignored Context

 

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Other users pushed back hard, arguing the ICE agent was justified, even as online debate continues over what actually happened in the moments leading up to the shooting. One commenter wrote, “Moral of [the] story, don’t hit a federal agent with your car, and you won’t get shot," a claim that’s been heavily disputed online, with some insisting the agent was struck and others arguing he moved out of the way in time.

Another person claimed Good was provoking authorities throughout the encounter, writing, “If you watch the entire 3-minute video, Nicole purposely blocked and taunted law enforcement several times. Using her car to block the police, honking, and oddly dancing in her seat. She did everything she could to provoke.”

And one user accused Ellen of hypocrisy over politics, adding, “ICE is doing the same thing it did when Obama was in office, but you supported it then. You don’t know just because you don’t like the one currently in charge. You’re just spreading hate and confusion!”

Supporters Thank Ellen DeGeneres For Speaking Up

While Ellen DeGeneres faced plenty of backlash, her post also drew a wave of support from followers who said they shared her heartbreak and applauded her for using her platform to call attention to the fatal shooting. One person summed up the grief in a simple message, writing, “It’s so tragic and sad”.

Others thanked Ellen directly for speaking out, with one supporter writing, “Thank you, @ellendegeneres, for having the courage to speak up clearly and publicly when silence would have been easier.”

Another commenter echoed Ellen’s emotional reaction and argued Renee Nicole Good shouldn’t have lost her life at all, saying, “Thank you for sharing. I feel the same way. She should be alive today," they wrote. "We’re witnessing government-sponsored terrorism every day now, right here in the USA. None of this should be happening.”

DeGeneres Addresses Minneapolis In Video Message

In another post, Ellen also spoke directly to the camera, sharing an emotional message about what’s unfolding in Minneapolis, and why the city feels personal to her.

“I am so sorry for what is happening in Minneapolis and our country, really, but specifically Minneapolis right now because it's where I shot my last standup special and everybody there couldn't have been more lovely," she said. "I shot it there because they say it's the happiest city in America. And I found that to be true."

The comedian added, "So my thoughts and my prayers are going out to everyone, and I'm proud of everyone who's protesting peacefully, and I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt, just for protesting, for doing what you should be doing."

Feds Gear Up As Minnesota Protests Surge

As protests continue to spread, the federal response appears to be ramping up.

According to CNN, the Pentagon has placed about 1,500 active-duty troops on prepare-to-deploy orders for a possible Minnesota deployment if tensions escalate, while state leaders have also mobilized the National Guard.