Katherine Heigl is heatedly responding to multiple comments criticizing her for attending a dog rescue event held at Mar-a-Lago.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum went to the Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting Big Dog Ranch Rescue fundraiser on Sunday at Donald Trump’s estate in Palm Beach, Fla., her first red carpet event in two years.
The fundraiser was co-chaired by Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and inside the event, Heigl posed for pics with former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, “Dog Whisperer” dog trainer Cesar Millan and others.
After receiving backlash for attending the fundraiser due to its Trump connection, Heigl noted that the welfare of animals has nothing to do with politics in a statement obtained by Page Six.
“Animals don’t vote. The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter,” the statement reads. “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.”
Heigl pointed out that she and her mother, Nancy — who accompanied her on Sunday — have spent years advocating for animals through the Jason Heigl Foundation. The charity, which is named after her late brother who died in a car accident, aims to rescue, heal,and rehome animals while fighting cruelty and overpopulation.
Heigl shared that the event at Mar-a-Lago raised over $5 million for animals in need.
“As a society, we should all come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent,” she said. “This should not be a polarizing issue.”
But some social media users still took to Just Jared’s Instagram post regarding her statement to bash the actress, and Heigl directly responded to multiple shady comments.
The “Knocked Up” star, 47, replied to one snarky comment asking, “Who even is she?”
Heigl wrote, “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. 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!”
One critic slammed Heigl’s past difficult reputation, writing, “She was hated on Greys. Thats why she can’t get a real job. Difficult. Thinks her sh-t don’t stick,” to which the actress responded, “your so silly…what’s a ‘real job’ in your so educated opinion? 
.”
Heigl also savagely clapped back to one user who brought up her “Grey’s Anatomy” character, Izzie Stevens.
“That’s why Alex Karev cheated on you with Olivia 
,” the user wrote, to which Heigl replied, “Does this make you smile? Making a dumb joke when animals in this country are suffering and I’m doing everything and anything I can to stop their suffering?”
She continued, “‘Let me ask…do you do anything that really matters? Other than comment on some one else’s instagram? Do you really think that actually matters? Makes any kind of difference? Seriously…I’d love to know your thoughts on your uselessness.”
Heigl denied she made any money off of the event in response to a comment that claimed her outfit “screamed Republican.”
“Sounds like times are tough, and she’s trying to make deals, no matter who’s offering,” the Instagram user mused, to which Heigl replied, “Really? So I’m using animal advocacy to what? Line my pockets? Interesting…seems to be costing me more than I can make…but that’s ok. At least my parents taught me to give more than I get. Taught me to do more than just judge. You seem…really meaningful in today’s society. Just keep screaming your virtue signaling bulls–t while doing nothing that really matters. Good on you.”
Heigl later snarked back to a user who wrote, “I didn’t think it’d be possible for her to be even LESS likeable and MORE irrelevant.”
The actress shot back, “I’m sorry who are you?”
Heigl told the Palm Beach PostTuesday that she supported Big Dog’s mission to “solve the pet overpopulation issue” in the US.
“Our biggest goal right now really is to diminish the number of unwanted litters coming into this country, which is what is overcrowding our shelters,” she said. “We hear the word ‘shelter,’ and we think these animals are safe there, and they are not. It’s not the shelter’s fault, and it’s not the fault of the shelters’ workers. It’s that our country is overrun with puppy-mill breeders.”
The post Katherine Heigl hits back at fans politicizing her attendance at Mar-a-lago rescue event: ‘Animals don’t vote’ appeared first on Page Six.
