By Wonderwall.com Editors
10:12am PST, Feb 18, 2022
On Feb. 18, former Minnesota cop Kim Potter was sentenced to two years following her conviction in the death of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old unarmed Black man who was fatally shot during a traffic stop. Kim, a 26-year veteran of the force, intended to draw her taser during the stop but instead grabbed and fired her handgun. On the heels of the sentencing, many stars shared their outrage on social media, expressing their beliefs that the judge went far too easy on someone convicted of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter (prosecutors recommended a seven-year sentence). To mark the sentencing news, join Wonderwall.com as we look back at how Hollywood stars and other famous faces reacted to the April 11, 2021, shooting death, starting with Beyonce, who mourned Daunte in a simple but powerful post on her website that read, "REST IN PEACE DAUNTE WRIGHT."
Keep reading for more reactions…
RELATED: Stars who died in 2021
"Look at this kid. With his kid. Where is the compassion? Where is the benefit of the doubt?? #Dauntewright you deserve better. We deserve better… god bless your family and u little one" –Jamie Foxx, alongside a photo of Daunte Wright and his 1-year-old son
"1. He should not have resisted arrest. 2. She should be charged. Two things can be right at the same time" –Kevin Sorbo
"Now I'm seeing this! Here we are saying prayers for ANOTHER family because ANOTHER reckless officer exposed themself at the expense of ANOTHER Black human being. I'm so sorry Daunte Wright You are so much more than…ANOTHER. I will NEVER get used to this" –Regina King
"Either the officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright did so with intent, or she did it by accident but with reckless disregard for the safety of another human being. Either way, she has no business being on the police force. How would any citizen ever feel safe around her?" –George Takei
"Maybe if the police weren't so quick to draw any weapon, then maybe people wouldn't die because of a mix-up. Don't you find it amazing that cops think everything is a gun, except their own gun? If you have a cellphone in your hand — 'Oh, that's a gun.' If you're holding a wallet, 'Oh that's a gun.' Their own gun? No, not a gun." –Trevor Noah on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah"
"#DaunteWright should still be alive. My heart goes out to his family, his friends. And to all Black people who are tired of waking up to tragedy after tragedy." –Kerry Washington
"Why the f would the #BrooklynCenter cop even think they needed to TAZE #DaunteWright in the first place? Of course no one is going to buy the 'oops, I thought my gun was merely a taser'. But to even try to justify tasing this young man is ridiculous." —Kathy Griffin
"We cannot get comfortable! May God bless the soul of Daunte Wright." –Common
"There are no accidents in police terror and white supremacy. Say his name. #DaunteWright @Blklivesmatter" –Mayim Bialik
"Daunte Wright was 20 years old, out driving with his girlfriend in his new car. MN cops pulled him over because he had an air freshener on his rearview mirror- moments later he was shot and killed. Meanwhile white mass shooters are consistently arrested unscathed. Say his name" –Padma Lakshmi
"R.I.P. Daunte Wright…. SMFH Minneapolis police have shot & killed a 20 year old black child over an insurance card." –The Game
"There has to be a better way. If there isn't then we gotta make one. #DaunteWright" –Ray Fisher
"In 3 days, we've seen: heart-wrenching testimony in #DerekChauvin trial; Lt. Nazario being pepper-sprayed for a minor traffic stop; #DaunteWright being shot in another minor traffic stop. Yet, some still don't want to understand why people kneel and say, 'Black Lives Matter'…" –Ana Navarro-Cardenas
"Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police. It's important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country." –Former President Barack Obama (read his full statement here)
"Today I'm thinking about Daunte Wright and his family — and the pain, anger, and trauma that Black America experiences every day. While we await a full investigation, we know what we need to do to move forward: rebuild trust and ensure accountability so no one is above the law." –President Joe Biden
"Daunte Wright's life mattered. An investigation must yield answers and justice for his family. #BlackLivesMatter" –Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
"Daunte Wright should still be alive. This epidemic of injustice that Black Americans face daily must end. His life mattered. #BlackLivesMatter" –New Jersey Senator Cory Booker
