Celebrities React to Uvalde Shooting — Matthew McConaughey: 'We Must Do Better'

On Tuesday, news broke that 19 children and two adults were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The suspected gunman was identified as 18-year-old Uvalde High School student Salvador Ramos, who also died.

During a brief press conference, Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo told reporters, “The suspect did act alone during his heinous crime. Families are being notified and we are providing services to them.”

Governor Greg Abbott said in a press conference before the death toll was raised, “He shot and killed horrifically and incomprehensibly 14 students and killed a teacher."

“When parents drop their kids off at school, they have every expectation to know that they’re going to be able to pick their child up when that school day ends. And there are families who are in mourning right now,” Abbott continued. “The state of Texas is in mourning with them for the reality that these parents are not going to be able to pick up their children.”

President Joe Biden addressed the nation, questioning, "Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God's name is our backbone?"

Biden later added, "We have to make it clear to every elected official in this country: It's time to act. It's time for those who've delayed or blocked the common sense gun laws, we need to let you know — we will not forget. We can do so much more. We have to do more."

The suspect allegedly shot and killed his grandmother before opening fire at the elementary school.

After hearing the news, many celebrities, including Matthew McConaughey, Kylie Jenner, Khloé Kardashian, LeBron James and Chris Evans took to social media to express their outrage.

Matthew, who was born in Uvalde, wrote in part, "Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us."

The Oscar winner asked for every American to "look deeper," saying, "We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo."

Matthew continued, "We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children's issue... This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured."

He included a message to the families, saying, "Words can not comprehend or heal your loss, but if prayers can provide comfort, we will keep them coming."

James Corden also slammed gun laws in his monologue on "The Late Late Show."

He said, "As you’ll know by now a gunman entered a school in Texas and killed at least 18 children and two adults. It’s unfathomable. As a father, I can’t imagine the horror of that phone call. When I dropped my kids off at school this morning, and kissed them goodbye, it doesn’t cross your mind that that could ever be the last goodbye."

"The thought of that phone call that your child is the victim in a mass shooting is beyond comprehension as a human being. I am so deeply sad for the families of these children, the trauma of the survivors, and for the future these kids will never see," Corden went on. "I don’t know what has to happen to change things here. I am constantly shocked by the number of people who must think this is an okay by product to never make meaningful changes to gun laws. It doesn’t make sense to me. This doesn’t reflect the country that I think America is. The America I’ve always admired - you have a problem and you solve it. You’re on the forefront of medicine, of technology, of innovation. When there’s a world war, you are the ones we turn to!"

Along with calling America "one of the most backward places" in terms of gun control, he said, "I will probably be standing here talking in another week or two about another place. Words of "thoughts and prayers" will come from our leaders…. but I fear change never will. I hold out hope that this country will eventually wake up and change this senseless gun culture... while my heart simply goes out to everyone in Texas tonight."

Stephen Colbert addressed gun violence at the beginning of his show "The Late Show." He told his viewers, "While we can add our prayers for the dead, there is nothing that can ever be said that can approach the immeasurable grief of those families. But while we’re at it, let’s pray that this time our leaders show a modicum of courage in trying to prevent this from ever happening again.”

"But prayers won’t end this. Voting might,” Colbert stressed. “So when you vote, ask yourself this question: Who, running for office, has publicly stated that they are willing to do anything and everything in their power to protect your children from the criminally insane number of guns in America?”

Kylie wrote on Instagram, “Another school shooting. Devastating. Breaks my heart for these families.”

Khloé added, “I can not comprehend today’s tragedy in our country... How is this happening. My heart is breaking. I pray, I hope, I beg, I plead.. please law makers, government officials, leads of our country, do something to protect our children.”

Chris tweeted simply, “F**king enough!!!!”

LeBron wrote on Twitter, “My thoughts and prayers goes out to the families of love ones loss & injured at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX! Like when is enough enough man!!! These are kids and we keep putting them in harms way at school. Like seriously ‘AT SCHOOL’ where it’s suppose to be the safest!”

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