John Rich Pays Touching Tribute To ‘Renegade Spirit’ Kirstie Alley After Her Sudden Death

The world is still reeling from the sudden death of the beloved Hollywood star Kirstie Alley, who passed away on Monday at the age of 71 following a short battle with colon cancer. The country music star John Rich has since taken to social media to pay tribute to Alley, who was one of the few actresses in Hollywood that was brave enough to express her conservative views publicly.

John Rich Pays Tribute To Alley

“I always admired the renegade spirit of #KirstieAlley and the way she fought hard and never backed down from her beliefs, while simultaneously keeping America laughing,” Rich wrote. “She will be truly missed.”

Alley ‘Blackballed’ By Hollywood

One year before her death, Alley told the Fox News host Tucker Carlson that she had been “blackballed” by the liberal world of Hollywood over her support of the former President Donald Trump.

“People go, ‘You’re so brave.’ I go, ‘No, I think I’m stupid.’ Because honestly, it is a real blackballing situation,” Alley said, according to Newsweek. 

Alley went on to talk about what it’s like to be a conservative in Hollywood. 

“You can be cooking meth and sleeping with hookers, but as long as, apparently, you didn’t vote for Trump… I feel like I’m in The Twilight Zone a bit, with the whole concept of it,” she continued. 

Not stopping there, Alley lamented the fact that many of the celebrities who she once called friends had abandoned her over her political views.

“On Twitter, I had many celebrities followed me, and now I think three follow me,” she stated “I’m the same person. I’m the girl who voted for Obama, twice. And I’m like, ‘Oh, so you liked me when I voted for Obama, and now you’re this?’ And it’s made me have to rethink, weirdly, my whole friendships, all my friendships.”

Check out Alley’s full comments on this in the video below.

Related: New Details Emerge About Death Of Kirstie Alley After She Dies Suddenly At 71

Trump Thanks Alley For Her Support

Trump himself released a statement after this interview aired thanking Alley for her support. 

“She is a great actress, loved by so many people, and a true original,” he said at the time. “She is also strong and smart. Many millions of people greatly appreciate her support of our Country. Thank you Kirstie, you are truly appreciated.”

Alley celebrated this on social media, tweeting, “Just got a very kind acknowledgment. Thank you Sir, I wish you were still on Twitter ..as you should be.”

Trump had been suspended from Twitter months before this interview in the wake of the Capitol riot. He was recently reinstated by Elon Musk after the billionaire took over Twitter, though at the time of this writing, Trump still has yet to tweet again. 

Trump Speaks Out After Alley’s Death

Yahoo News reported that on Monday night, Trump released a brief statement honoring Alley after her death.

“Kirstie was a great person who truly loved the USA. She will be missed!!!” he said. 

Related: Kirstie Alley Blasts ‘Nullifying’ Of Women After Doctors Preach ‘Inclusive’ Language Like ‘Chestfeeding’

Alley’s two adult children shocked the world on Monday when they revealed that their mother had passed away.

“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” they said, adding that Alley was “surrounded by her closest family” at the time of her passing, and that she “fought with great strength.”

Unlike many others in Hollywood, Alley could actually think for herself about politics, and she wasn’t afraid to speak the truth even if it meant jeopardizing her career in a liberal industry.

Rich said it best when he described her as a “renegade spirit,” and she will be dearly missed.