Los Angeles, Nov. 6, 2024 (AP) – Following former President Donald Trump’s re-election, actress America Ferrera, known for her iconic role in Ugly Betty, has set her sights on relocating to the United Kingdom, aiming to secure “the best opportunities” for her young children.
Her decision reflects growing concerns among celebrities who feel disillusioned by the political climate in the U.S., especially those who supported Kamala Harris, the defeated Democratic candidate in the recent presidential race.
According to sources cited by The Daily Mail, Ferrera, 40, and her husband, filmmaker Ryan Piers Williams, are preparing for the move with their two children, daughter Lucia, 4, and son Sebastian, 6.
The shift, a response to the divisive political atmosphere that followed Trump’s re-election, aligns Ferrera with a wave of prominent Americans seeking residence abroad, particularly in the UK.
Ferrera, while committed to relocating, reportedly intends to keep a professional foothold in the U.S. industry.
An insider close to Ferrera said she is “sick” over Trump’s win and devastated by Kamala Harris’s loss in the presidential race, indicating her deep disappointment with the direction the country has taken.
“America is sick that Donald Trump is president again,” the source told The Daily Mail, noting that Ferrera’s heartbreak stems from a belief that her country stood for values of inclusivity and progress that she feels have been compromised.
“She thought the country she lived in was better than that,” the source added, reinforcing Ferrera’s sense of disillusionment with her homeland.
Nevertheless, Ferrera’s priorities lie with her family, the source explained, underscoring her need to create a stable and secure environment for her children.
“She’s not abandoning the U.S.; she is prioritizing her life and focusing on the importance for her kids,” they said, adding that the actress is adamant about maintaining a U.S. presence for her work, her community, and the broader interests of women and Latinas in the entertainment industry.
As Ferrera grapples with the contentious U.S. political landscape, she joins a list of American celebrities who have expressed frustration with Trump’s leadership and voiced intentions to relocate if he returned to office.
Major figures including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Lopez, and Howard Stern openly supported Harris and the Democratic campaign.
After the election, many in Hollywood and beyond have shown dismay, while some, including Ferrera, have decided to take action by seeking a new life across the Atlantic.
Reports from Hello! Magazine disclosed that Ferrera was recently seen visiting a prestigious private school in Southwest London, a likely indication that her relocation plans are firmly underway.
A source told Hello! that Ferrera appears to be planning a residence in this area, signaling a major shift in her family’s lifestyle and schooling.
The sentiment of finding refuge overseas in response to domestic political strife is not new.
During Trump’s first term in office, numerous celebrities threatened to leave the U.S. should he secure a second presidency.
However, the previous rhetoric has translated into more tangible decisions with his recent re-election.
Celebrities have cited various factors, including concerns about gun violence, abortion rights, and political polarization, as motivations to relocate to places they consider safer or more politically stable.
The list of celebrities who have hinted at leaving the country has only grown in recent years, with some issuing firm statements of intent.
Daily Mail reports show that actress Sharon Stone has contemplated purchasing property in Italy, attributing her concerns to Trump’s alleged stance on policies she describes as divisive and oppressive.
Stone told The Daily Mail in July, “I am certainly considering a house in Italy… This is one of the first times in my life that I’ve actually seen anyone running for office on a platform of hate and oppression.”
Singer Cher, another outspoken critic of Trump, shared in an interview with The Guardian last year that she nearly developed an ulcer from her intense concerns about the former president’s policies and political influence.
“If he gets in, who knows? This time I will leave [the country],” she stated, underscoring her distress over Trump’s potential impact.
Her comments reflect the anxiety that has resonated with Ferrera and other notable figures feeling a sense of urgency about the current state of American politics.
Barbra Streisand, another long-time critic of Trump, has also publicly discussed her potential plans for relocation.
In a conversation with The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, she admitted that remaining in the country if Trump assumed the presidency again would be challenging.
Streisand expressed a preference for England as an alternative home, further underlining the collective feeling among several public figures about seeking residence beyond the U.S.
Ferrera’s move is not solely influenced by political factors but also by her responsibility as a mother to safeguard her children’s future, an insider explained.
Despite her desire to maintain a career in the U.S., her decision to prioritize her family has resonated with others in the industry who share similar motivations.
Her move signals a cultural shift among public figures who are increasingly taking tangible actions in response to political dissatisfaction, with the UK emerging as a preferred destination.
Amid the unresolved social debates in the U.S. and the polarized political landscape, Ferrera’s departure may be a sign of further relocations to come, as other high-profile figures consider leaving the country for similar reasons.
For Ferrera and her family, the transition represents a bid for stability, a fresh chapter that reflects her priorities in the face of an increasingly uncertain environment in her home country.
