Is the British weather about to send Ellen DeGeneres running back to Trump's America? It seems the comedian and her wife, Portia de Rossi, might be rethinking their escape plan. As a Brit myself (though one living abroad), I've got no qualms with wealthy immigrants settling in the UK. My only wish is that they embrace local culture and leave their 'foreign' ideas at the door.
Ellen and Portia, this is aimed at you. They landed in the UK last year, just before the 2024 election. Once the results were in, they made it clear they were staying put, seeking refuge on the 'sane' side of the Atlantic. While the immigration details are hazy, it seems the 'one in, one out' rule doesn't apply to those arriving on private jets, only those arriving by boat. The couple snapped up a luxurious Cotswolds home, and Ellen charmed the locals during a July appearance, declaring, "Everything here is just better."
It's easy to be optimistic during a British summer, when the countryside is vibrant. However, with winter's gloom setting in, whispers suggest the fair-weather Brits are considering a return to Trumpland. According to the Mail on Sunday (so take this with a grain of salt), the pair miss their friends and can't bear another British winter. I understand homesickness, but there's a certain loss of credibility when you flee creeping fascism only to return because you can't handle a bit of cold. As my mother would say: just put on another jumper, Ellen! Forget your strange American ideas about perpetual sunshine.
Ellen and Portia aren't the only celebrities apparently reconsidering their aversion to life under Trump. Since Trump's entry into the political arena, Hollywood has resembled an airport departure lounge, with many announcing their imminent departures. But few have followed through. In 2016, comedian Amy Schumer told Newsnight she would "move to Spain or somewhere" if Trump won. She later clarified this was "said in jest," and, let's be honest, it's not always easy to tell when Schumer is joking.
Miley Cyrus also used the "just joking" excuse to explain her changed relocation plans. In March 2016, she announced she would move if Trump became president, adding, "I don’t say things I don’t mean!" Cyrus later admitted 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 still hasn't made any moves.
However, there are a few US celebrities who have actually left and don't seem to be looking back. In March, Courtney Love, who has lived in London since around 2019, said she was planning to get her British citizenship. While this might not be solely due to Trump 2.0, she called the US political situation "frightening."
Around the same time, comedian Rosie O’Donnell revealed she had relocated 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 in a TikTok video. While it's easy to poke fun at self-deporting celebrities—many of whom are insulated by their wealth from the effects of Trumpism—O’Donnell was probably wise to leave. The comedian has a long-standing feud with Trump, and earlier this year, the president considered stripping her of her US citizenship. He might not be able to do this legally, but when a man with a devoted following is targeting you in a country with rising political violence, it's natural to worry about your safety.
But here's where it gets controversial... There may not be a mass celebrity exodus yet, but the US does seem to be experiencing a brain drain because of Trump. A poll from the journal Nature found that 75% of researchers in the US are considering leaving; international students also seem less interested in studying there. Meanwhile, some experts in authoritarianism are already packing their bags. "We Study Fascism, and We’re Leaving the US," was the headline of a video op-ed by three Yale professors for the New York Times earlier this year before they left for Canada. A chilling message indeed. But nothing compared with a damp winter in the Cotswolds.
And this is the part most people miss...
What do you think? Are these celebrities justified in leaving? Is the weather really the biggest challenge, or is something more significant driving this potential exodus? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
