Actress Katherine Heigl is pushing back against critics who took issue with her appearance at a dog rescue fundraiser held at Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate of President Donald Trump, arguing the event was focused entirely on animal welfare rather than politics.
Heigl attended the Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting Big Dog Ranch Rescue fundraiser on Sunday at Trump’s Florida residence. According to the organization, the event raised $5.5 million to support its work rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs.
But her appearance quickly drew backlash online from critics who objected to her participation in an event held at the home of the former and current Republican president. The criticism reflects a broader dynamic in the country’s polarized political climate, where public figures often face scrutiny simply for appearing at venues associated with Trump or his allies.
In recent years, commentators on the right have frequently used the phrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) to describe what they view as an outsized or reflexive hostility toward Trump and anything connected to him. Supporters argue the phenomenon leads some critics to condemn even non-political activities if they occur in proximity to Trump or his properties, while detractors of the term say it is used to dismiss legitimate concerns about the former president.
Heigl appeared to push back against the idea that politics should overshadow charitable work.
“Animals don’t vote. The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter,” Heigl said in a statement to Page Six. “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.”
She also urged people not to turn animal welfare into a partisan issue.
“As a society, we should all come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent,” she added. “This should not be a polarizing issue.”
The actress also responded directly to critics on Instagram after the event circulated online. Some commenters questioned why she would attend a fundraiser held at Trump’s home, while others mocked or dismissed her involvement.
When one commenter wrote, “Who even is she?” Heigl replied:
“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.”
She followed up with another response encouraging people to focus on causes they care about rather than online criticism.
“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!”
Heigl, best known for her roles in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Knocked Up,” and “27 Dresses,” has long been active in animal rescue efforts. She and her mother co-founded the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, named after her late brother, which works to rescue dogs and cats and fund spay-and-neuter programs.
In recent years, the actress has stepped back somewhat from Hollywood life. In a 2023 interview on the “Today” show, Heigl said she relocated with her family to Utah after spending much of her career in Los Angeles.
“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.”
She said the move helped provide balance after years in the entertainment industry.
“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.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the Mar-a-Lago fundraiser, Heigl made clear that her focus remains on the charitable mission behind the event — helping animals that cannot advocate for themselves.
Good call Heigel awesome