Not too long ago, Gal Gadot’s “Imagine” video (in which she and several famous friends, including Natalie Portman, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Fallon sang the iconic John Lennon tune to, uh, fight the pandemic) got dragged online, and following weeks of police brutality protests, it’s happening again. Gadot is not involved this time (she appears to have gotten the message), but another gathering of celebrities has assembled, this time to “take responsibility” for unchecked racism and swear to help end it.
This PSA is actually part of a project (as detailed at the Hollywood Reporter) — hosted at the ITakeResponsibility.org website — that launched in partnership with the NAACP. The celebrities in this video, including Sarah Paulson, Justin Theroux, Stanley Tucci, Aaron Paul, Kristen Bell, Julianne Moore, Mark Duplass, Bryce Dallas Howard, Debra Messing, Piper Perabo, and Kesha, all pledge to stop “turning a blind eye” while claiming that they are, themselves, taking responsibility for letting racism fly (through inaction) in their presence. The website also asks users to take responsibility in various ways, and one has to make selections from a menu before entering the site.
Let’s just say that the video’s not being embraced too warmly on social media.
regret to inform you the celebs are at it again pic.twitter.com/pfORBiqvrX
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) June 11, 2020
Despite the good intentions involved with those who made this video, people are cringing and wondering how Stanley Tucci ended up here, noticeably pulling his eyes away from the camera to read a script.
tag yourself i’m stanley tucci looking away from the camera to read the script https://t.co/XqgaxLFRpe
— ahmad (@ephwinslow) June 11, 2020
Stanley Tucci’s manager: “You should have stopped at how to make the perfect Negroni, Stan”. pic.twitter.com/O0y3L6CkZk
— Canada’s Darci
(@DarciCanada) June 11, 2020
The way I’m gonna ignore Stanley Tucci being in this
— Bolu Babalola (@BeeBabs) June 11, 2020
Others, including Justin Theroux and Aaron Paul, are being called out for appearing too actor-y. Lots of Jesse Pinkman jokes are going on here.
Justin Theroux using this as a moment to go totally Method really puts it over the top https://t.co/WjJZyoLhY9
— Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) June 11, 2020
hi my name is Aaron Paul today I’m reading for the role of Righteous Guy
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) June 11, 2020
kristen bell: i hold myself responsible
stanley tucci: i stand against police brutality
aaron paul: I WANNA SLASH A COP’S THROAT AND BATHE IN HIS BLOOD
— Blue Wives Shagger (@amcnal) June 11, 2020
The winner is Aaron Paul who gave us a full pro wrestling promo with gritted teeth and firm jaw muscle definition to let you know it’s time for WHITE SERIOUSNESS pic.twitter.com/nDMfO5MenO
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) June 11, 2020
nothing is funnier than aaron paul in this clip going full walter killing his girlfriend voice at the end of this https://t.co/4P7R6dSyCk
— Chai Goth, hit 2000s reality tv show Survivor fan (@Abid_ism) June 11, 2020
I lost it when Aaron Paul went full Jessie Pinkman at the end lmao https://t.co/ihKDTuvpmx
— inside
(@EyelessSilas) June 11, 2020
Thought it seemed a little insensitive when Aaron Paul said “bitch” at the end of his statement. Do better celebrities. https://t.co/hv7r45UbcC
— Daniel Harr (@DTH3000) June 11, 2020
And of course, this has inspired one user to toss out a Breaking Bad take because, well, 2020 is just a difficult time, and some people want to embrace the chaos.
With Aaron Paul trending I would like to once again remind everyone that Jesse Pinkman was a bad person who is more responsible for Jane’s death than Walt and doesn’t deserve the love he gets
— Nate (@BarstoolNate) June 11, 2020