Actress Katherine Heigl fired back at critics angry over her attendance at a Mar-a-Lago dog rescue event in a statement on Wednesday.
“Animals don’t vote. The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter,” Heigl told Page Six in a statement. “They are completely at the mercy of us, and they have no voice of their own.”
“This event was about animal advocacy — something that has always been deeply personal to me,” she continued. “Anyone who knows me knows that protecting animals is one of my greatest passions.”
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES MULTI-AGENCY ‘STRIKE FORCE’ TO CRACK DOWN ON ANIMAL ABUSE
Heigl attended the Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting Big Dog Ranch Rescue fundraiser on Sunday at President Donald Trump‘s Palm Beach, Florida, home.
“As a society, we should all come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent,” she added. “This should not be a polarizing issue.”
Big Dog Ranch Rescue posted on Instagram that the event raised $5.5 million.
Heigl responded to several comments on Instagram taking issue with her attendance and the statement that followed.
‘GREY’S ANATOMY’ STAR KATHERINE HEIGL DITCHED HOLLYWOOD FOR UTAH: ‘NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO ESCAPE’
One comment asked, “Who even is she?”
“Doesn’t matter. Do you care about animals? If so donate! Time! Money! Attention! Your voice! It doesn’t matter who I am only what I do,” Heigl responded on Instagram.
“The same goes for you! Animals might not be your thing but I bet you care deeply about something that matters! Do your part! Don’t waste your time scrolling and making comments!” she added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Heigl revealed she ditched Hollywood for Utah in 2023, telling the “Today” show at the time she “needed somewhere to escape.”
“I think some people are mountain people, and I think some people are beach people,” Heigl explained. “I’m sort of a mountain person and have always been that way.”
“And my mom realized, because we went out to LA when I was 17 and hustled and hustled for years, right?” Heigl continued. “And I think she realized at a certain point that I needed somewhere to escape to and kind of clear my head, and that grounded me.”
