Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon has long been a lightning rod for political controversy, and her recent commentary on the NYPD has been no exception.
Following a highly publicized funeral for slain NYPD officer Jason Rivera that drew an astonishing crowd of police officers to a gathering in the streets of New York, Sarandon shared a meme that called the funeral "fascism" and in her own words questioned the need for the NYPD at all.
The backlash from police organizations and conservatives has been swift. Sarandon has since deleted the tweet, but you can see a screenshot below.
@SusanSarandon/Twitter
The NYPD funeral at the center of Sarandon's post drew several critiques last week from people unnerved by the astonishing size of the crowd that turned out to honor fallen officer Jason Rivera, one of two officers slain during a recent domestic violence call.
#NYPD funeral for slain officer Jason Rivera in NYC.pic.twitter.com/cWDvHrBCr1— gifterphotos (Authentic account) (@gifterphotos (Authentic account)) 1643390679
Given the increasingly militarized nature of police forces across the country and the NYPD's recent history of racial profiling and violence against protestors, some found the imposing crowd disturbingly reminiscent of the militarized police forces that tend to be central features of fascist regimes, including journalist Danny Haiphong.
I'm gonna tell my kids this is what fascism looks likepic.twitter.com/Jwosih9oOg— Danny Haiphong (@Danny Haiphong) 1643512084
Sarandon, clearly agrees. Along with a screenshot of Haiphong's tweet calling the crowd "fascism," Sarandon questioned the need for the NYPD at all in a graphic posted to both her Instagram and Twitter accounts. She wrote:
“So, if all these cops weren’t needed for CRIME that day, doesn’t that mean they aren’t needed ANY day?”
The backlash from police organizations and conservatives was nearly immediate. The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York clapped back at the actress, who they called "privileged" and out of touch.
This is what privilege looks like: a wealthy actress, safe in her bubble, mocking heroes & making light of the crisis that cops are battling alongside our communities. NYC is uniting to stop the violence \u2014 @SusanSarandon is living on a different planet.https://nypost.com/2022/02/02/susan-sarandon-shares-post-comparing-nypd-funeral-to-fascism/\u00a0\u2026— NYC PBA (@NYC PBA) 1643889872
The National Fraternal Order of Police, the nation's largest police union, also spoke out against Sarandon, calling her a "D-list" actor and castigating her for attacking the police on the day they were burying the second officer who died alongside Rivera, Wilbert Mora.
Of all the days for @SusanSarandon to share her true feelings towards police, she picks the day we bury our fallen brother to make such inflammatory & brainless comments. When you spend more time hating on cops than you do your own career, it's no wonder why you're a D-list actor https://twitter.com/SusanSarandon/status/1488646730908413954\u00a0\u2026— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)) 1643859859
Soon, a tidal wave of angry criticism was crashing Sarandon's way, especially from conservatives.
What a despicable piece of garbage Susan sarandon ishttps://twitter.com/nypost/status/1489040204962873345\u00a0\u2026— Noah B. (@Noah B.) 1643853440
Susan Sarandon is the perfect example of everything that\u2019s wrong in America! Who Agrees?— Ginger\u2019s Page \ud83d\udcd5\ud83d\udd8a (@Ginger\u2019s Page \ud83d\udcd5\ud83d\udd8a) 1643892493
2 young men answering a call to help a mom with her abusive son were shot in the face and lost their lives. Those officers came from all across the country to show support. Shame on you.— Lorraine Evers (@Lorraine Evers) 1643827661
I\u2019d roast Susan Sarandon, but I can\u2019t think of a thing she\u2019s been in that had any real relevance. \n\nShe\u2019s just another leftist who will condemn us for woke points, but will run right to us when they need us. \n\nI dare any of these #DefundThePolice activists to survive without us.— Zeek Arkham, Cop With Attitude (@Zeek Arkham, Cop With Attitude) 1643859901
You do realize the vast majority were off duty while attending? Do you sit at home thinking how can I be an A hole today or does it come naturally— John Nucero (@John Nucero) 1643814097
Congratulations, Susan Sarandon! You're now the poster child of an angry, woke, liberal, pro-criminal, anti-law and order jerk. \n\nThere are other more fitting titles, but it only gets more vulgar from here.pic.twitter.com/rwgcqSd1jD— Lee Zeldin (@Lee Zeldin) 1643854207
But it wasn't just conservatives who were offended by Sarandon's sentiments. Many Democrats joined in the chorus castigating her as well.
You know who has shit the most all over the police in the last year? Susan Sarandon and Kevin McCarthy\u2019s @HouseGOP. McCarthy and GOP voted against $350m in new police funding, refused to meet with Jan 6 heroes, and support Trump who pledges to pardon cop killers.— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1643911482
Just so we're really clear about this: we Democrats don't want Susan Sarandon. She's not a Democrat and she's not a liberal. She's one of the reasons that we had to endure trump for 4 years and are still having to endure him. She's also an asshole.— Hold My PomPoms Bitches (@Hold My PomPoms Bitches) 1643892496
Dear GOP:\n\nSusan Sarandon -- the Kirstie Alley of Tulsi Gabbards - \nis all yours. She votes with you anyway. \n\nLove, Democrats— NewbieHoward \u2721\ufe0f (@NewbieHoward \u2721\ufe0f) 1643924660
Susan Sarandon in an eyebrow-raising tweet has called into question the need for police in New York City and she did it by reposting a message likening cops at the funeral for fallen Officer Jason Rivera to fascists.\n\nShe's an idiot.— ~\ud835\udce3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcf7\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcec\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcf8\ud835\udcfe\ud835\udcfc \ud835\udce3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf1~ (@~\ud835\udce3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcf7\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcec\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcf8\ud835\udcfe\ud835\udcfc \ud835\udce3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf1~) 1643815325
The left does NOT claim Susan Sarandon. Repeat, the left does NOT claim Susan Sarandon. Who agrees?— Angela Belcamino (@Angela Belcamino) 1643902343
Sarandon has frequently criticized the NYPD and has been a vocal supporter of the calls to defund and abolish police forces that arose in the wake of the murder of unarmed Black man George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020.