An influential celebrity has chastised Democrats for panicking following their 2024 election defeat, saying now is the time to reflect and change.
“People need a reality check. The Democratic Party needs a reality check,” activist and producer Nicole Avant said in a new interview.
“I’m not really Bernie Sanders, but I like what he said: ‘Are we really shocked that the Democratic Party is leaving the working class and then the working class decides to vote for someone other ?’ Why are we in shock? From time to time, everything changes. People need to come together,” she continued in her comments to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I hope people are really looking at themselves right now,” she added.
Avant, daughter of the late philanthropist Jacqueline Avant and famed music executive Clarence Avant, is a top Democratic donor, married to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
The couple are friends with the Obamas and raised more than half a million dollars for the presidential campaign in 2012 after she served as his ambassador to the Bahamas.
Avant also helped raise money for the campaigns of several prominent Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Avant said she sympathized with those who were disappointed by Harris’ defeat, but remained optimistic about the future of the Democratic Party.
She offered tough love to liberals looking to flee the country because of the new Republican administration.
“Everyone says, ‘Oh my God.’ Where will I move? I’m not going anywhere. I am American. I love my country,” Avant said. “But in the end, millions of Democrats didn’t vote.”
“I’m still very optimistic and I think we have great people in the party — Gov. Josh Shapiro, Gov. Andy Beshear, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, they’re all smart and effective. People need to decide how they want to be efficient and productive and be orderly about it,” she said.
“Don’t cry all the time.”
In addition to her work in entertainment and as a Democratic party leader, Avant also served as Obama’s ambassador to the Bahamas from 2009 to 2011.
Alex Pappas of Fox News contributed to this report.
