Actress Patricia Heaton recently took the media to task, blasting them for what she described as fear-mongering and anxiety-fueling tactics in the lead-up to the 2024 election, especially when it comes to women and vulnerable groups. Posting a video on X (formerly Twitter), Heaton made her case, suggesting that instead of stoking panic, the media should get back on the air and set the record straight. She urged them to remind viewers that America isn’t teetering on the edge of doom and that a Trump presidency doesn’t spell the end for anyone.
Heaton’s video, filmed shortly after she returned from a week in Israel, took a particularly pointed tone. She shared that she had witnessed the devastation caused by Hamas terrorists in Israel and described it as a reminder of what real danger looks like. In her words, Americans are “fine here” and will “be fine,” which she implied should be enough to ease the minds of people led to believe that they’re suddenly in danger because of a change in leadership. She seemed to believe that Trump’s return could even be a positive development for the Jewish people.
The actress didn’t mince words, particularly in calling out social media’s response to the 2024 election. After Vice President Kamala Harris lost her bid for the presidency, social media platforms lit up with tearful, even panicked reactions, especially among women. Heaton referenced videos of people crying, shaving their heads, and proclaiming fears of being hunted or jailed, all of which she blamed on the media’s relentless narrative that Trump’s victory would spell disaster for anyone not in his camp.
“I’ve also seen a lot of the response videos — especially from women who are crying, screaming, shaving their heads, saying they’re going to be jailed or rounded up or killed or hunted or whatever — ugh,” Heaton said.
“We need to pray for them. And I just want to say to all you folks who feel that way, don’t make politics or identity groups your religion!” Heaton continued to say. “Only Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Put your faith in Him, not in men, not in man’s institutions, not in human institutions.”
Heaton didn’t just criticize the media’s fear-spreading; she also offered a piece of advice for those feeling terrified by the outcome. “Don’t make politics or identity groups your religion!” she said. For Heaton, faith in Christ is what endures through political swings, and she encouraged viewers to focus on that rather than being whipped into hysteria by media-fueled panic.
As Heaton wrapped up her remarks, she zeroed in on the media’s responsibility in creating and amplifying this atmosphere of fear. Her view is clear: by granting airtime to pundits and voices that paint Trump voters as “uneducated” and the coming years as apocalyptic, media figures are actively harming people, especially those already vulnerable. She challenged these same pundits to “go back on the air” and reassure the people they’d terrified, urging them to admit that not every voter on the other side is uninformed or out of touch.
“To all these extremists that are allowed television time who told women that this is what is going to happen to them, shame on you! Shame on you!” she said. “Apparently, there are some really vulnerable people here who you targeted, and you fear-mongered to, and you need to go back on the air and tell them things are gonna be okay, tell them that they’re fine.”
“And also, stop — stop saying that people who voted differently than you are quote-unquote ‘uneducated.’ Learn your f-ing lesson about smearing people who feel differently from you, who have different needs from you, and who have legitimate complaints. Quit dismissing them as ‘uneducated.’ When are you going to learn?” she finished saying. “All right, have a great weekend.”
Reality check pic.twitter.com/ClHhJC6XOj
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) November 9, 2024
Heaton’s message serves as a call for calm and realism in a media landscape that often prioritizes sensationalism over accuracy.
