Julianne Moore took to Instagram to express her shock after discovering that President Donald Trump’s administration ordered the ban of her children’s book, Freckleface Strawberry, from schools run by the Department of Defense worldwide.
What did Julianne Moore say about the banning of her book?
Actress Julianne Moore was stunned by the news, especially since her book talks about self-acceptance, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
The actress expressed her feelings through a post on her Instagram account:
“It is a great shock for me to learn that my first book, Freckleface Strawberry, has been banned by the Trump Administration from schools run by the Department of Defense. Freckleface Strawberry is a semi-autobiographical story about a seven year old [sic] girl who dislikes her freckles but eventually learns to live with them when she realizes that she is different ‘just like everybody else.’ It is a book I wrote for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community.”
“And I can’t help but wonder what is so controversial about this picture book that cause [sic] it to be banned by the US Government. I’m truly saddened and never thought I would see this in a country where freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right.”
What Is Freckleface Strawberry About?
The banned children’s book by Julianne Moore follows a 7-year-old girl who has freckles and red hair as she tries to accept herself.
The book was first released in 2007, and it now has several sequels including Freckleface Strawberry: Backpacks! And Freckleface Strawberry: Lunch, or What’s That?
The official synopsis for the first book says “the things that make you different also make you YOU,” which emphasises the self-acceptance element.
Why was Julianne Moore’s Freckleface Strawberry banned?
According to the Guardian, Julianne Moore’s Freckleface Strawberry was banned as part of a list of books under review by the Department of Defense.
The publication reported that the Department of Defense stated that it is examining literary books “potentially related to gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology topics.”
The department suspended access to books for a week until a “small number of items” were selected and kept for “further review.” Moore’s book is apparently on the initial review list; it is still unclear whether the ban is temporary.
The book could have been picked because of its diversity elements since the government has been violating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies.
The Controversy Surrounding The Trump Administration
The news of banning Moore’s book is the latest addition to the controversy surrounding Trump and his administration.
Trump has been making headlines for several reasons, including his statement that the media can’t drive a wedge between him and Elon Musk.
In addition, the banning of books such as Moore’s has made Trump and his administration the target of criticism.
According to The Independent, the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians described the choice of banning books as “shameful censorship” that “silences the voices of Americans whose lives reflect the diversity of our nation.”
Celebrities reacting to the banning of Moore’s book
Following the news of the book’s banning, several celebrities have reacted to the news by commenting under Julianne Moore’s post.
Actress Chloë Grace Moretz wrote “Wow, truly shocked about this??? Literally why??”
While actress Ellen Pompeo took a dig at the administration before saying “don’t even know what to say.”
Andy Cohen also had something to say. He wrote, “What an absolute joke. The party of free speech banning books.”
What do you think of how Moore reacted to banning her book?
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