Lancaster, CA – Critics lashed out at Hollywood actress Kristen Bell after she stopped by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Lancaster station to chat with deputies last weekend.
The LASD Lancaster station posted photos of the meet-and-greet with Bell to its social media pages on Nov. 20.
“Today, we had the absolute pleasure of meeting @kristenanniebell, who was hands down, the kindest human ever,” the post read. “There truly never is a dull moment at Lancaster!”
Critics were quick to slam Bell, who was beaming with her arms around two deputies in one of the photos and flashing a “thumb’s up” in another.
Some commenters likened the LASD to criminal gangs.
“She likes gang members?” the response read.
“@KristenBell what’s your favorite LASD gang? I think the executioners are kind of your vibe,” another critic wrote.
Others referred to the photo-op as a “big mistake” and said it was “awful to align with such evil.”
“This sucks soooooo much, Kristen. Jesus Christ,” one message read.
“I’ll forgive her. Based on the pic she looks a little stoned, I’m guessing a few selfies are easier to deal with than a pot arrest. Even for the super privileged,” another critic tweeted. “But seriously, @KristenBell please look into LASD gangs.”
Today, we had the absolute pleasure of meeting @KristenBell, who was hands down, the kindest human ever.
There truly never is a dull moment at Lancaster! #LASD #AV411 #myherowearsabadge pic.twitter.com/T3ZatbYX3Q
— LASD Lancaster Stn. (@LANLASD) November 20, 2021
Others defended Bell and the deputies, with one person commenting that anyone offended by the photos should “seek a good therapist and get help with getting on with their lives.”
“Not sure what’s happening here with the controversy but she’s supporting the community,” another person commented. “Whoever is offended by this needs a new hobby.”
One woman tweeted there was absolutely “nothing wrong” with the photos.
“There are plenty of good police officers,” she wrote. “Perhaps its time to stop making martyrs out of criminals and blaming the police for doing their jobs. This country is so backwards in their thinking, it’s really damn sad.”
Bell has been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement in the past, the Daily Mail reported.
The actress co-authored a children’s book in 2020 titled, “The World Needs More Purple People,” which is about “embracing what makes YOU special while finding common ground with those around you,” including reaching “beyond the political divide of red and blue,” according to the Daily Mail.
The book quickly became a New York Times Best Seller.