Katherine Heigl Defends Attendance at Mar-a-Lago Animal Fundraiser
Katherine Heigl has publicly addressed the criticism she received for attending a three-day fundraising event at former US president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The Grey's Anatomy star, whose last major public appearance was at the 2024 Emmys for a special reunion, attended the fundraiser hosted by Wine, Women & Shoes, which raised $5.5 million for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, America's largest no-kill shelter.
Event Details and Attendees
The event was co-chaired by Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump and featured notable figures including popular TV dog trainer Cesar Millan and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro. Heigl, known for her roles in 27 Dresses and The Ugly Truth, has not publicly aligned with any political party, having previously told USA Today in 2014 that she was "terrible at politics."
Heigl's Defence of Her Involvement
In response to the backlash, Heigl emphasised that her presence was driven solely by her commitment to animal rights. "Animals don't vote. The only room they don't like is the euthanasia room at a shelter. They are completely at the mercy of us, and they have no voice of their own," she told Page Six. She added, "This event was about animal advocacy — something that has always been deeply personal to me. Anyone who knows me knows that protecting animals is one of my greatest passions."
Social Media Responses and Advocacy Work
Heigl has been actively replying to comments on an Instagram post by entertainment news outlet Just Jared, challenging critics about their own contributions to causes. She asked one user, "Have you donated a significant part of your income to anything? Anything you claim to care so much about? Have you done anything more than comment on what someone else is doing or not doing to your standard?" To another, she questioned, "Do you think comments on an Instagram post matter to animals who have had humans pour gasoline on them and set them on fire?"
When a commenter referenced her Grey's Anatomy character being cheated on, Heigl retorted, "Making a dumb joke when animals in this country are suffering and I’m doing everything and anything I can to stop their suffering? Let me ask…do you do anything that really matters?"
Background on Heigl's Animal Activism
At the event, Heigl explained to USA Today's Palm Beach Post that she was there to support Big Dog Ranch Rescue, a non-profit whose mission aligns with her family's Jason Heigl Foundation. Founded in 2008 in memory of her late brother, the foundation focuses on:
- Rescuing shelter animals
- Funding veterinary care
- Supporting spay-and-neuter programmes to reduce pet overpopulation
- Raising awareness about animal cruelty
Heigl has largely stepped away from the spotlight in recent years to focus on her family and animal activism. Her last screen appearance was in 2023 as Tully Hart in the final season of Netflix's Firefly Lane, though she remains best known for her role as Dr Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010.
The Independent has contacted Heigl's representatives for further comment on the matter.
