Already have an account?
Get back to the

Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Other Stars Beg Congress to ‘Stop Gun Violence Now’ in Open Letter

After the tragic shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, on Sunday, June 12, the music world has banded together to sign an open letter, begging Congress to “stop gun violence now.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrities' Political Affiliations

The letter was published on Thursday, June 23, by Billboard and includes the signatures of many A-listers, including Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Meghan Trainor, among others.

The letter implores Congress to enforce stricter laws when it comes to obtaining firearms in the United States, and points out that “gun violence kills more than 90 Americans every day and injures hundreds more.” Billboard (and its army of celebrity supporters) suggests that potential gun owners should be subject to more thorough background checks and suspected terrorists should be banned from purchasing guns.

Billboard
Billboard

Billboard and the undersigned implore you — the people who are elected to represent us — to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk,” the letter reads.

Billboard
Billboard

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Deaths in 2016: Stars We’ve Lost

Signatories such as Gaga, 30, and Gomez, 23, have been vocal about their personal connection to gun-related violence.

The “Born This Way” singer spoke at a vigil on Monday, June 13, held in honor of the 49 killed and 53 wounded in the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

“Lost members of the LGBT community, I hope you know that myself and so many are your allies,” the proud LGBT advocate said. “I can’t help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, is an attack on humanity itself. … Tonight, Orlando, we are united with you to remember.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity LGBT Allies

On the Miami stop of her Revival tour on Saturday, June 11, Gomez paid tribute to her fellow pop star and friend Christina Grimmie, who was shot and killed while signing autographs during a meet-and-greet after a June 10 concert in Orlando.

“When she was 14, we met her and my parents, and I signed her,” the Disney channel alumna tearfully told concertgoers. “One thing about Christina and her family is that she holds her faith so closely to her. And I think it’s not about a religion and it’s not about anything or good deeds. It’s just that she had faith, and I don’t really understand how this really happened, but I would like to dedicate this next song to her.”

Britney Spears and Lady Gaga
Britney Spears and Lady Gaga

Related: PHOTOS: Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

Incidentally, Billboard’s letter has come out shortly after the Senate failed to pass legislation on four gun control measures. Democratic lawmakers, led by Representative John Lewis, organized a sit-in on the floor of the House chamber on Wednesday, June 22, demanding a vote on gun control legislation. They ended their sit-in 25 hours later, on Thursday, after drawing attention to the issue.

Read the full list of stars who signed the letter below:

Adam Lambert

Adam Levin (X Ambassadors)

Akiva Schaeffer

Alan Gilbert (New York Philharmonic)

Alanis Morissette

Alex Pall (The Chainsmokers)

Alicia Keys

Andrew Bird

Andy Samberg

Angel Coleman

Barbra Streisand

Beck

Bill Kreutzmann (Dead & Company)

Billy Joel

Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket)

Bob Weir (Dead & Company)

Bonnie Raitt

Brad Delson (Linkin Park)

Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)

Britney Spears

Butch Walker

Calvin Harris

Cam

Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket)

Carole King

Casey Harris (X Ambassadors)

Charlie Puth

Cher

Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)

Christina Aguilera

Christina Perri

Conan O’Brien

Courtney Love

Cyndi Lauper

Demi Lovato

Diplo

Drew Taggart (The Chainsmokers)

Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)

Elle King

Ellen DeGeneres

Elvis Costello

Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks)

Eric Hutchinson

Fher Olvera (Maná)

Glenn Kotche (Wilco)

Gregory Porter

Halsey

Iggy Pop

Jack Antonoff

Jackson Browne

James Corden

Jason Mraz

Jean Michel Jarre

Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)

Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Company)

Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)

Jennifer Lopez

Jim James (My Morning Jacket)

Joan Jett

Joe Hahn (Linkin Park)

Joe Jonas

John Mellencamp

John Stirratt (Wilco)

Jorge Hernandez (Los Tigres del Norte)

Josh Groban

Julia Michaels

Justin Tranter

Kaskade

Katy Perry

K.D. Lang

Kelly Rowland

Kesha

Kid Cudi

Lady Gaga

Lecrae

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Macklemore

Mark Ronson

Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks)

Matisyahu

Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam)

Meghan Trainor

Melissa Etheridge

Michael Bublé

Michael Stipe

Mickey Hart (Dead & Company)

Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco)

Mike D

Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)

Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park)

Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks)

Nate Reuss

Nick Jonas

Nicky Jam

Pat Monahan

Pat Sansone (Wilco)

Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket)

Paul McCartney

Pete Wentz

Peter Tork

Prince Royce

Pusha T

Questlove

Ricky Martin

Ringo Starr

Rivers Cuomo

Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park)

Rob Thomas

Rosanne Cash

Rufus Wainwright

Ryan Leslie

Ryan Lewis

Sam Harris (X Ambassadors)

Sara Bareilles

Selena Gomez

Shakira

Sia

Stevie Nicks

Sting

Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)

Talib Kweli

Terence Blanchard

Thom Yorke

Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket)

Tony Bennett

Tori Amos

Trent Reznor

Troye Sivan

Vic Mensa

Wayne Coyne

Yoko Ono

Zayn Malik 

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!