Celebrities react to President Biden's inauguration: From Oprah to Rihanna

Stars celebrated the inauguration of the new US president

Rihanna, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, and Meena Harris all reacted online to the US presidential inauguration. Instagram  

Rihanna, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, and Meena Harris all reacted online to the US presidential inauguration. Instagram  

Farah Andrews author image
Farah Andrews
Jan 21, 2021
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On January 20, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the US.

During his presidential campaign, a host of A-list names voiced their support for the Democratic nominee and his Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Naturally, celebrities celebrated his inauguration, so here we round up some of the best reactions to the Washington ceremony.

Rihanna's Kamala Harris reference 

Sharing a photo of herself dressed up and taking out the trash, the Umbrella singer quoted Vice President Kamala Harris, with the hashtag, #wediditJoe. This is the phrase the vice president was famously recorded saying down the phone to President Biden upon discovering they had won the election.

The Barbadian singer's T-shirt reads, "End racism".

Mindy Kaling's emotional connection 

When Vice President Harris was officially announced as the first female VP, as well as the first black and Asian-American person to take the office, The Office star shared a photo of Harris, captioning it: "Crying and holding my daughter, 'Look baby, she looks like us.'"

Yesterday, she shared a photo of the back of her daughter Katherine's head, watching the inauguration, with the caption: "I was at work, but apparently she said: 'Is that mommy? It looks like mommy.' Best compliment I ever got! It matters. Happy Inauguration everyone."

Kerry Washington cheering for Amanda Gorman 

Like millions around the world, Scandal star Kerry Washington loved the reading by Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old poet who lit up the stage with her performance of The Hill We Climb.

"Yes! Amanda Gorman Yes! God bless you," Washington wrote, quoting Gorman by writing, "It’s the past we step into and how we repair it."

She then shared a video of the poet reading her inspiring original composition:

Oprah's gift for Amanda Gorman 

Another fan of Gorman's was Oprah Winfrey.

The celebrated talk show host wrote: "I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, Amanda Gorman! Maya Angelou is cheering — and so am I."

According to Vogue, Winfrey gifted Gorman the jewellery she was wearing at the inauguration; a pair of gold hoop earrings by Nikos Koulis and a Of Rare Origin ring, which featured a caged bird, a tribute to Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Mark Ruffalo's message of hope 

Pro-Biden Avengers star Mark Ruffalo summed his thoughts up into a tweet, writing: "We are going to be okay. From the wreckage there will be renewal, from the wounds will grow compassion and character, from the division will come clarity, from the despair will come wisdom, from the loss will come community."

He also shared a Bernie Sanders meme:

Chrissy Teigen's request for the president 

Model Chrissy Teigen was in Washington for the inauguration, as husband John Legend was performing. Following the swearing-in of President Biden, she reached out to the new Potus on Twitter with a cheeky request: "Hello @joebiden I have been blocked by the president for four years can I get a follow plz".

Which then paid off, as Teigen, who campaigned for the president, was one of just 12 accounts the new official Potus account was following later that day:

Antoni Porowski's presidential pride 

Following the inauguration, Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski tweeted that he was now "comfortable following @POTUS".

Dionne Warwick's tweets of congratulations 

"We are moving onward and upward with dignity and bravery. God bless," wrote soul legend Dionne Warwick on Twitter.

She added a congratulatory message for President Biden and Vice President Harris, and a gif of the pair:

Lady Gaga's 'moment of change'

Before singing the US national anthem during the inauguration, Lady Gaga wrote: "Singing our National Anthem for the American People is my honour. I will sing during a ceremony, a transition, a moment of change – between POTUS 45 and 46. For me, this has great meaning.

"My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land. Respectfully and kindly, Lady Gaga."

After the ceremony, she explained the sartorial significance of her bird brooch, writing: "A dove carrying an olive branch. May we all make peace with each other."

Josh Gad's sobering moment

He may be known for playing loveable, funny characters on screen, but Frozen star Josh Gad kept it quite serious when reflecting upon the inauguration.

"We must never take Democracy for granted again," Gad wrote.

Meena Harris's moment of pride

Vice President Harris's niece Meena Harris shared a photo of her daughter, Amara, 4, with her great-aunt, with the caption: "Visiting Auntie at her new job," and geo-tagged the White House.

Adorably, both of Meena's daughters, Amara and little sister Leela, 2, paid tribute to their great-aunt, wearing snow leopard-print faux fur coats, which resemble a coat a young Kamala Harris wore in a childhood photo.

Orlando Bloom gushing about Katy Perry

Orlando Bloom gushed about his fiancee Katy Perry, who closed the show with a rendition of Firework.

"One day our little girl will grow up and see her mother play her part in a moment in history that we hope will heal, we hope will unite, we hope, we love," the British actor wrote, sharing a video of Perry's performance. "One proud partner here with a tear of joy."

Legends at the Lincoln Memorial

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend also took their kids to the Lincoln Memorial to reflect upon Legend's involvement in the day.

"We feel very grateful to be a part of this moment," the All of Me singer wrote.

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Read more: 

The heart - and hand - warming story behind Bernie Sanders's inauguration mittens

Biden, Harris, Gaga and more: Decoding the politics behind inauguration outfits

What did Jennifer Lopez say in Spanish? Star praised for inclusive inauguration show

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