Late Night Hosts Respond to Orlando Tragedy

June 14, 2016

  • The tragic massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando has inspired a wide range of responses. Right as the story broke, we shared a post about how to help. Yesterday we covered the love and support the global community has shown for the victims and their families. And Lin-Manuel Miranda shared a sonnet dedicated to the victims in his emotional Tonys acceptance speech. Now it’s time for late night hosts to weigh in. Samantha Bee had a fiery response on Full Frontal, calling for enhanced gun control legislation and ridiculing Marco Rubio and Florida governor Rick Scott for their languid responses to the tragedy. Here’s the full video:

  • Source: www.youtube.com / Via: www.youtube.com

  • Conan O’Brien, after two decades of refraining from wading into the political discussion on gun control, added his voice to the chorus. He called for a ban on the weapons used in the shooting, stating “I am a father of two, I like to believe I have a shred of common sense, and I simply do not understand why anybody in this country is allowed to purchase and own a semi-automatic assault rifle.”

  • Source: www.youtube.com / Via: www.youtube.com

  • Jimmy Fallon, on the other hand, stopped short of endorsing a political position and instead called on viewers to love one another. (Presumably, more NRA members watch broadcast TV than Conan and Bee’s TBS, and Fallon didn’t want to risk alienating anyone.) In any case, his emotional response is legitimately moving, and can be seen here:

  • Every late night host to record since the tragedy has weighed in on it: Stephen Colbert, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, Larry Wilmore, and John Oliver (whose response is only available legally through HBO). Contribute to the Pulse Victims Fund here, and read our personal, emotional response to the events in Orlando here. What do you think? Is it time to take action? Let us know in the comments below, and follow @WhatsTrending on Twitter for more updates to this story.