From Ryan Reynolds To Catherine Zeta-Jones: Celebrities React To News Of Betty White's Passing

Jan 01, 2022 by apost team

America's Sweetheart and comedy legend Betty White passed away less than three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. She was an icon in the film and television industry and will be missed terribly. The news was reported by People Magazine, quoting her agent Jeff Witjas. 

"Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," Betty White's agent and close friend Jeff Witjas told People in a statement. "I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. I don't think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again." 

Betty White was one of the most beloved actresses of all time. Over the long course of her career, she received plenty of awards and recognition for all of her hard work and immense talents. At 99 years old, White showed no signs of slowing down, but it was more than just her talent that made her such a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. 

Her beautiful personality and bold voice have helped carry White through the challenging times of working in the entertainment industry and have also helped make her a favorite with fans and critics alike. The star has never shied away from doing what's right and making her voice heard.

In the wake of the sad news, many celebrities and friends of the iconic actress have spoken out on social media to share their sadness and grief - although the most comforting message came from an unexpected source.

The news of Betty White's death came unexpectedly on December 31st, 2021, ending the year in a particularly sad way. Beloved all over the world for her charm and wit, White was a true icon that will be remembered by many fans, both young and old. Her passing hit many especially hard, as the star was set to celebrate her 100th birthday in only a few weeks on January 17th. Several of her friends and fellow celebrities had only recently been involved with filming the movie special set to air on her birthday. 

Many of the people she worked with or grew close to over the years took to their social media accounts when the news of her death made the rounds. 

Ryan Reynolds took to Twitter and managed to capture the heartbreaking news of White's death in a moving eulogy of few words, but with much feeling: 

"The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We'll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret."

Reynolds captured what many fans are feeling perfectly. While we all knew she was getting on in years, all of us still felt she had so much joy to share with the world.

Also chiming in to share his grief at White's passing was Seth Meyers, host of "Late Night with Seth Meyers." He shared a fond memory he had of America's Sweetheart and her time hosting the famous Saturday Night Live show:

"RIP Betty White, the only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party. A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end."

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Among the many people speaking out in memory of White, the tweet by the US Army was perhaps the most unexpected. Sharing an old black and white picture of White during her days serving in the American Women's Voluntary Services during the second world war, they tweeted:

"We are saddened by the passing of Betty White. Not only was she an amazing actress, she also served during WWII as a member of the American Women's Voluntary Services. A true legend on and off the screen."

Meanwhile, Catherine Zeta-Jones took to her Instagram account to post a picture of White and the simple words: "R. I. P our Golden Queen! Generations loved and adored you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻"

Reese Witherspoon also chimed in on Twitter, thanking the star for her decades of amazing work: "So sad to hear about Betty White passing. I loved watching her characters that brought so much joy. Thank you, Betty, for making us all laugh!"

Ellen DeGeneres also tweeted in memory of White: "What an exceptional life. I'm grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White. Sending love to her family, friends and all of us."

However, the most comforting message of all might be one that was posted not by any famous celebrity, but by a normal Twitter user. Answering Reynold's post, Twitter user Jon Byars wrote: 

"I say she's 100. She had 24 Leap Years, that's an extra 24 days getting her past 1/17. This is the exception all of mankind needs right now"

We heartily agree with this proposal!

What was your favorite Betty White moment? Share it with us and pass this along to your friends.