John Stamos has spoken out following a backlash to his recent appearance at Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach resort of Donald Trump.
The Full House star took to social media to address the criticism of his charity work over the weekend, posting a statement on his Instagram Story on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
“Supporting nurses isn’t political – it’s essential,” he wrote.
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The actor and occasional Beach Boys drummer said he accepted an invitation to MC the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Gala, which he described as “an evening dedicated to honouring and uplifting our frontline heroes”.
Stamos said the “nonpartisan event” supports The Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations, an organisation which trains nearly 400 nurses each year.
He noted the non-profit directly addresses “the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in Palm Beach County”.
“These are the people who care for us and our families when we need it most, and I believe we should show up for them with the same unwavering dedication they show up with every single day,” Stamos wrote.
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“I stand by the importance of healthcare, of service, and of investing in those who care for our communities.
“My values and political views remain unchanged and if you don’t donate to Palm Beach Ray of Hope, then please consider donating to Democracy Forward”.
The General Hospital alum previously publicly endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 US election and again shared his support in 2024.
Stamos played host of the Dancing with the Stars-themed gala and dutifully posed for selfies and photos with a number of guests.
As these images began circulating online, trolls began to take aim at the actor on social media, with a number of comments particularly across X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“John Stamos at Mar-a-Lago? Disappointing. Uncle Jesse would never. Time to cancel Full House reruns, can’t watch without thinking of this betrayal. What’s next, DJ Tanner at a MAGA rally? Gross,” one person wrote.
One user wrote a criticism of his appearance with a play on his character’s famous Full House catch phrase “have mercy”.
“John Stamos just ruined his brand forever. You can’t visit Mar-a-Lago and then expect the stink to ever leave you. Nobody will be having mercy on him,” they said.
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Another fan said they were “disappointed” and “sad” by Stamos appearing at the event, held at the US President’s Florida home.
This is not the first fundraiser the actor and musician has hosted for frontline workers.
He hosted an LA County Sheriff’s Academy Class 464 event in December 2022 and following the California fires in January, Stamos and his wife Caitlin McHough vowed to help her hometown of Altadena rebuild.
McHough is the co-founder of Civic Soul, a non-profit which “connects people to service and education through immersive events that uplift communities in need”.
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