Canadians reacted with some bemusement to a repeated theme throughout the election: "If Donald Trump gets elected, I'm moving to Canada."
The sentiment is so strong that Canada’s immigration website crashed Tuesday night when it was clear Trump was headed to the White House. A cheeky website Cape Breton If Donald Trump Wins has been visited more than two million times, with thousands of inquiries from Americans.
A parade of celebrities had vowed throughout the campaign they would take up residence here if the brash billionaire found his way to the Oval Office. But on this, the day after the once-unthinkable happened, most of them have been publicly silent about shuttling north.
Author Stephen King, actor Bryan Cranston, singer Barbra Streisand and comedian Lena Dunham are among the celebs who publicly pondered taking up residency on the other side of the 49th parallel. Others, including Whoopi Goldberg and Miley Cyrus, weren’t directly pointing to Canada when talking about moving abroad.
King tweeted Wednesday morning: “No more book recommendations, politics, or amusing dog pictures for the immediate future. I’m shutting down.”
Cranston, who has portrayed President Lyndon B. Johnson, was more conciliatory and did not mention bailing on his country.
“Although shocked and disappointed by the outcome, I hope the pres-elect will work to unify our wounded country. I sincerely wish him success.”
Singer Michelle Branch is looking for a spouse, though she didn’t specify Canadians: “Any foreigners wanna get hitched??” she tweeted late Tuesday.
Dunham, a vocal advocate for Clinton, said during the campaign: “I know a lot of people have been threatening to do this, but I really will. I know a lovely place in Vancouver.” But the Girls creator and star has been quiet Wednesday.
Not so a tearful Cyrus, who took to Twitter Wednesday morning to express her disappointment with Hillary Clinton’s loss. “And I still think that during her lifetime she deserves to be the first female president and that’s what makes me so sad.”
No mention of departure plans, though. In fact, she said she would “accept” Trump as president.
Keegan-Michael Key also said he would flee north to Canada. “It’s like, 10 minutes from Detroit,” the comedian told TMZ in January. “That’s where I’m from; my mom lives there. It’d make her happy too.”
Raven Symone, best known for stints on The Cosby Show and The View said: “My confession for this election is if any Republican gets nominated, I’m gonna move to Canada with my entire family.”
Actress Chloe Sevigny even had her province picked out: Nova Scotia.
But don't expect hockey personality Don Cherry to welcome the celebrities at the border.
"The left wing kook entertainers and the left wing weirdo’s in the media in the US have said if Trump wins the presidency they will move to Canada. Please, we have enough of these type here now," he tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
Other big names looked past Canada.
Samuel L. Jackson said he’d be heading to South Africa.
Comedian Chelsea Handler has said she’s already bought a house in another, unspecified, country and vowed that, unlike other threats from celebrities promising to flee, she will actually leave. But Wednesday morning she tweeted only her “condolences” to Barack and Michelle Obama.
Singer Cher and former talk show host Jon Stewart apparently didn’t find Canada far enough away from Trumpland. Cher tweeted she’ll head to Jupiter. Stewart was less specific about what planet he’ll take up residency on.
There is no shortage of reminders to those promising to pack their bags.
“Hope all y’all who said you’re leavin’ if Trump is elected have your flights books. Merica,” tweeted Cloyd Rivers Pics.
Others offered moving vans or rides to the airport.
From mixed martial fighter Tito Ortiz: "@MileyCyrus @SamuelLJackson @chelseahandler @WhoopiGoldberg @cher @JonStewartHBO @amyschumer you guys need help packing your bags 2 Canada?"
