John Legend Is Tired Of People Telling Lies About Springfield, Ohio

By Jen Maravegias | Celebrity | September 13, 2024 |

By Jen Maravegias | Celebrity | September 13, 2024 |

Until last week, Springfield, Ohio, was probably best known for … nothing. Being the birthplace of Lillian Gish, maybe? It’s also the home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House. But really, until racist, right-wing extremists started spreading rumors about the Haitian immigrants who live there, Springfield was flying under the radar. That’s probably how they liked it.

Since Trump amplified baseless rumors about pets being eaten in Springfield there have been bomb threats made and members of the Haitian community across the country have spoken out about fears for their safety.

Springfield’s mayor, Rob Rue, went on CNN last night to discuss the bomb threats and the unique challenges their city has faced with the 20% increase in population it has seen in the past three years, primarily of Haitian immigrants. The rhetoric that conservative extremists have been spreading is not helping.

John Legend might actually be Springfield, Ohio’s most famous son. He was born and raised there, leaving with his family at 16 to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He’s a smart guy, and he’s tired of hearing people spread rumors about his hometown.

Last night, he took to Instagram to give us all a history lesson on Springfield and how so many Haitians (who are not eating anyone’s pets) came to live there.

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A post shared by John R Stephens - Springfield, Ohio (@johnlegend)

That John R Stephens, he’s a good guy. Be more like him and less like Sean Hannity. OK, folks?