By Mark Gray
12:48pm PST, Jan 7, 2022
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On Nov. 24, 2021, A jury found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. guilty of multiple counts of felony murder in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man who was gunned down while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia, in 2020. And on Jan. 7, 2022, those three men were sentenced: the McMichaels to life in prison without parole, and Bryan — who videotaped the murder — to life in prison with the chance of parole after he serves 30 years. On the heels of the verdict — the second high-profile verdict in as many weeks — many in Hollywood shared their reactions on social media. To mark the sentencing news, join Wonderwall.com as we look back at how Hollywood stars and other famous faces reacted to the guilty verdicts… Said comedian Kathy Griffin: "It's so gratifying to see justice being served."
Keep reading to see how other notable names responded to the verdict…
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"Feeling the feelings is part of liberation. I'm grateful the jurors chose accountability, heartbroken for the Black families who haven't received justice, called & inspired to continue the fight, and sending love & prayers to the family of #AhmaudArbery. May his soul RIP." –Kerry Washington
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"Holding space for #ahmaudarbery, his loved ones, and both the joy and pain of a moment like this. #blacklivesmatter." –Mayim Bialik
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"2nd good court decision in two weeks .. hallelujah. Ahmaud Arbery and Kyle Rittenhouse. KEEP EM COMIN" –Kirstie Alley
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"Bye b****** have fun in prison." –Diane Warren
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"The verdict does not erase the crime, but I hope the convictions of #AhmaudArbery's murderers bring his family some peace. I also hope they terrify the cowardly armed white men across the nation who thought they could shoot Black men in the street without consequences." –Alyssa Milano
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"Justice was served for Ahmaud Arbery! Gregory McMichael, guilty, William Bryan, guilty, and Travis McMichael guilty on all counts! The Arbery family and residents of Brunswick, GA fought hard for this verdict. We still have a lot of work to do in this country." –Magic Johnson
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"To Wanda….Ahmaud Arbery's mother….. your son mattered. His life mattered. I pray this brings you a tiny shred of peace. To the jurors…..huge gratitude for doing right. The pendulum of justice swung in the right direction!" –Viola Davis
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"Remember the justice part only happens when enough guilty verdicts cause people to stop doing that s***" –Jason Isbell
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"Happy those three would-be vigilantes are going to prison. I'd be happier if Ahmaud Arbery was still alive. That young man had his whole life ahead of him and those guys took it away." –Stephen King
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"It's always up to us. From Julius Jones to the Arbery case, pressure from the PEOPLE is what forces the system to uphold it's supposed laws and ideals. Never let up… Accountability matters. Justice would mean that #AhmaudAubrey would still be alive today. But the justice system did its job and delivered accountability. And only because of the people's pressure. Not today, white supremacy. Not today. #BlackLivesMatter" –Sophia Bush
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"Justice." –Jameela Jamil
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"At least one Judge and one jury in America, make some damn sense and have a moral compass." –Ana Navarro-Cardenas
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"even when it works out there is still an empty feeling." –Questlove
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Responding to Questlove, Erika Christensen wrote, "But it's still so very much different — better — than when it goes the other way. Whewwww."
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"TODAY there was justice. RIP Ahmaud Arbery." –Debra Messing
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"HUGE! White Supremacy found guilty!!" –Rob Reiner
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"Grateful to the McMichael jury who actually found murderers guilty of murder." –Richard Marx
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"A modicum of justice after a horrific act of violence." –Dan Rather
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"Ahmaud Arbery's killing – witnessed by the world on video – is a devastating reminder of how far we have to go in the fight for racial justice in this country. Mr. Arbery should be here today, celebrating the holidays with his mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, and his father, Marcus Arbery. Nothing can bring Mr. Arbery back to his family and to his community, but the verdict ensures that those who committed this horrible crime will be punished. While the guilty verdicts reflect our justice system doing its job, that alone is not enough. Instead, we must recommit ourselves to building a future of unity and shared strength, where no one fears violence because of the color of their skin. My administration will continue to do the hard work to ensure that equal justice under law is not just a phrase emblazoned in stone above the Supreme Court, but a reality for all Americans." –Joe Biden
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"Sick animals. Father & Son sick f****!!!! They look so harmless in glasses and suits right? #ahmaudarbery" –Michael Rapaport
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"I'm thankful for the verdict! But let's not forget 3 prosecutors saw that same video and thought #AhmaudArbery's murder was justified!" –D.L. Hughley
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"Justice and the GA jury gave us some restored faith. Knowing it is possible for us to change, to progress, to hold evil accountable–that is a much needed balm in these times. For this I give thanks." –George Takei
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"As you digest the guilty verdict of Ahmaud Arbery's murderers remember, this is not justice, but accountability. Justice implies true restoration, which is impossible in this case, but this is accountability which is the first step towards justice. #AhmaudArbery" –Emmanuel Acho
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"Praise God for some justice. Ahmaud Arbery, may you rest in power." –Jackee Harry
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"A well argued case by a really good prosecutor, plus crimes that were clear as day, and I cannot stress enough, how important the message this jury has sent is. They have nullified an unjust and now repealed pro-lynching law. And they have restored at least some faith in justice. And a really important note: the blatantly racist tactics of the defense did not work on a nearly all-white jury. The defense chose moral violence; the jury chose to follow the law. The prosecutor in this case should receive awards." –Joy Reid
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"The 3 men who killed #AhmaudArbery has been found guilty! Walking out of the courthouse with the parents of Ahmaud Arbery, their family, and their lawyers. All glory be to God" –Rev. Al Sharpton
