The entire world was captivated by the disappearance of the Titan submersible. People from all over, including celebrities, shared their differing opinions on the risky expedition before the devastating news emerged that all five passengers had perished.
Four days after the story initially broke, OceanGate issued a statement stating, "Regrettably, we now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet have been lost." Adding to the tragedy, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed on Thursday, June 22, that the debris recovered from the Titan was consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel.
Days before the rescue mission to save the five passengers trapped in the Titan, a vessel that had gone missing during its expedition to explore the Titanic wreck in the deep waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, the story gained attention in pop culture news. Brian Szasz, stepson of one of the passengers, Hamish Harding, attended a Blink-182 concert during this time. Despite the potential controversy, Szasz expressed on Facebook that being at the concert was important to him as it provided solace in challenging times, considering Blink-182 was his favorite band.
Cardi B had a swift response to the 58-year-old billionaire's stepson. She questioned, via her Instagram Story on Tuesday, June 20, what he was supposed to do in this situation. She sarcastically remarked that he should be sad at home, actively looking for her himself. She stated that he should be crying for her and waiting by the phone for any updates. In response, Szasz hit back at Cardi B through a series of tweets, claiming that he attended the show as a way to cope.
Kaley Cuoco, on the other hand, expressed her profound sorrow upon hearing the distressing news. The 37-year-old actress, known for her role in "The Flight Attendant," took to Instagram to share her thoughts. She revealed that the news had kept her awake for several nights and had deeply affected her. She also fervently prayed for the safe rescue of those involved, acknowledging the unimaginable ordeal the passengers must be going through.
Similarly, John Cusack joined the chorus of critics who questioned the disproportionate allocation of resources and funds towards rescuing the billionaires on board. He pointed out that other maritime tragedies, which have received minimal attention and financial support, deserved equal concern.
On Tuesday, June 20, the 56-year-old actor from "Say Anything" expressed his concern over the lack of attention towards capsized refugees, while billionaires on pleasure trips go missing. He noted that multiple navies were actively involved in search and rescue operations. In a statement released by OceanGate on Thursday, the five passengers on board were hailed as courageous explorers who shared a profound love for exploring and preserving the world's oceans. The company expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, grieving the loss of the lives and the happiness they brought to those who knew them.
Keep scrolling to see stars’ reactions to the Titan disaster:
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Celebs React to Titan Submersible Disaster: Cardi B, Kaley Cuoco and More
The disappearance of the Titan submersible captured the attention of the world, as people from all over the globe, including celebrities, shared their contrasting opinions on the daring expedition. However, the news of the tragic deaths of all five passengers quickly overshadowed the initial fascination.
OceanGate, four days after the incident gained widespread media coverage, released a somber statement stating, "We now regretfully believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have been lost." Furthermore, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed on Thursday, June 22, that the debris discovered from the Titan matched the characteristics of a catastrophic implosion of the vessel.
Days before the rescue efforts for the trapped passengers of the Titan, which disappeared on June 18th during its expedition to explore the Titanic wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean, the story gained attention in the realm of popular culture news. Brian Szasz, the stepson of one of the passengers named Hamish Harding, attended a Blink-182 concert. Despite the potential distastefulness of his presence there, Szasz, 37, explained on Facebook that his family would have wanted him to enjoy his favorite band's show, as music brings him solace during challenging times.
Cardi B had a swift response to the billionaire's stepson, questioning his actions and suggesting that he should have been at home, feeling sad and waiting for updates about her. In response, Szasz hit back at Cardi B on Twitter, claiming that he attended the show as a way to cope.
Kaley Cuoco expressed her deep distress upon hearing the distressing news. The 37-year-old actress, known for her role in "The Flight Attendant," took to Instagram to share her thoughts. She revealed that the news has kept her up at night and left her feeling sick. Cuoco expressed her sincere hope that those involved can be rescued, and she empathized with the passengers, acknowledging the unimaginable ordeal they must be going through.
John Cusack, on the other hand, joined the chorus of voices criticizing the allocation of resources and funds to save the "billionaires" aboard. He pointed out the stark contrast between the extensive efforts made to rescue these individuals and the lack of attention and funding given to other sea tragedies that have gone largely unnoticed.
The actor, aged 56, tweeted on Tuesday, June 20, expressing concern over the indifference towards the capsizing of refugees while billionaires on joy rides go missing. Multiple navies are said to be conducting immediate search operations. In a statement released on Thursday, OceanGate described the five passengers on board as "true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans." The company expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of these individuals, grieving the loss of life and the joy they brought to everyone they knew.
Keep scrolling to see stars’ reactions to the Titan disaster:
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Cardi B
"What is he expected to do? Stay at home feeling down? Should he personally go out and search for him?" the rapper questioned in an Instagram video on Tuesday. "Absolutely. The expectation is for you to be at home, feeling sad. You should be shedding tears on my behalf. You should be right by the phone, eagerly waiting for any updates about me."
Szasz then proceeded to criticize Cardi B for her perspective. "What a terrible and low-class celebrity. Cardi B is trying to gain popularity by exploiting my family's suffering," he expressed through social media. "Instead of staying home and watching the news, I chose to attend a Blink 182 concert as a way to cope. Shame on you, Cardi. Show some decency!"
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Kaley Cuoco
Cuoco expressed her distress in an Instagram Story, revealing that the recent events have been causing her sleepless nights and even making her physically ill. She shared her heartfelt prayers for the safety and rescue of those involved, acknowledging the unimaginable hardships the passengers must be enduring.
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Nicki Minaj
On a recent episode of her "Queen Radio" podcast, the “Anaconda” rapper shared her opinion on the breaking news story.
"No one should be foolishly boarding a submarine, claiming they are heading to the Titanic," she expressed. "I offer my prayers to the five passengers and extend my best wishes to the search and rescue teams. My utmost concern is ensuring the safety of everyone involved."
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Bethenny Frankel
"Who would dare to venture into a submarine if not Jacques Cousteau? If you're seeking an adrenaline rush, why not down four margaritas and see how the night unfolds? Or experiment with trying on a bathing suit without your underwear, or attend Burning Man dressed as a parakeet, the possibilities are endless," shared the former cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City on Instagram. "However, engaging in activities such as riding motorcycles, jumping out of airplanes, or swimming with sharks, all seem like ill-advised choices. It's truly heartbreaking and devastating. May those unfortunate individuals rest in peace."
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John Cusack
"All I can think about is the tragedy of capsized refugees, and it is disheartening to see that no one seems to care. Meanwhile, there are billionaires going on joy rides, oblivious to the suffering around them. It is alarming to witness multiple navies scrambling instantly to search for survivors," Cusack tweeted on Tuesday.
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Joy Behar
During a recent episode of The View, the cohost drew a parallel between the Titan disaster and the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Behar highlighted the intriguing similarity between the two events, pointing out that both were caused by human incompetence and arrogance. She expressed her concern and sadness, emphasizing the eerie realization that history may be repeating itself for the crew of the Titan.