Additional Coverage:
**Title: John Legend Defends Hometown Against False Claims**
John Legend is standing up for Springfield, Ohio, his hometown, amid false allegations circulating online. The singer-songwriter is countering unfounded claims, notably amplified by former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating people’s pets.
In a six-minute Instagram video posted on Thursday, Legend debunked these rumors, urging the public to show compassion for Haitian immigrants. He highlighted that his hometown, which has seen a decline for decades, found new opportunities during the Biden administration as more manufacturing jobs became available. At the same time, Haiti faced significant turmoil, prompting the U.S. to expand a legal immigration program for Haitians.
Since then, approximately 15,000 immigrants have settled in Springfield, a city that had around 60,000 residents. Legend acknowledged the challenges of integrating this new population but emphasized that these individuals came to Springfield for jobs and to pursue the American dream.
Directly addressing the rumors, Legend stated, “Nobody’s eating cats. Nobody’s eating dogs.
We all just want to live and flourish and raise our families in a healthy and safe environment. How about we love one another?”
He signed off his video as “John R. Stephens from Springfield,” a nod to his roots.
The video has garnered over 142,000 likes and 11,000 comments. Legend also discussed the issue during an appearance on BBC Newsnight.
The rumors about Haitian migrants began spreading on social media, fueled by posts from figures like Ted Cruz, Elon Musk, and JD Vance. However, Trump’s remarks during a recent debate, claiming “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” brought the issue into the spotlight.
Local officials in Springfield informed CBS News that they had no credible reports of Haitian migrants harming pets. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, also dismissed the claims in an interview on Wednesday, describing them as internet-driven hysteria. He praised the Haitian immigrants for their hard work and significant contributions to filling local jobs.