Comedian Caleb Hearon defended his decision to wear an anti-ICE pin at The Devil Wears Prada 2 London premiere on Wednesday, telling reporters that immigration enforcement agencies are "terrorizing communities" while Americans struggle with basic costs.
The 31-year-old actor, who plays one of Miranda Priestly's assistants in the sequel, was questioned about the pin during red carpet interviews at Leicester Square. "I think in a country where people can't afford groceries and the rent continues to go up and no one can afford to buy a single-family home and rural hospitals continue to close and infrastructure is crumbling, I could go on for days and days and days. But the fact that we're paying these people to terrorize our communities, it makes me absolutely sick," Hearon told USA Today.
Cast reunites for sequel premiere
The London event marked the final stop of the sequel's international press tour, with original cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci all reprising their roles. New additions include Simone Ashley from Bridgerton and Kenneth Branagh.
"It was so much fun to be part of the film again after having that initial instinct 20 years ago to sign on to the original project."
Anne Hathaway told the BBC on the red carpet. Emily Blunt described returning to her role as "effortless - like a comfortable pair of old slippers."
The sequel follows Miranda Priestly as she competes against her former assistant Emily Charlton for advertising revenue amid declining print media, with Miranda nearing retirement. The film hits UK cinemas on May 1.
Fashion takes center stage
The premiere showcased elaborate designer looks that nodded to the film's fashion-forward themes. Streep arrived in head-to-toe Prada, wearing a voluminous red satin coat over black trousers and white blouse, paired with pointed-toe red pumps featuring an ultra-elongated toe. She carried a bedazzled clutch designed to look like a miniature version of the fictional Runway magazine.
- Hathaway wore a sheer navy Versace corset gown with tuxedo-inspired details
- Blunt chose Balenciaga in the film's signature red with $1 million in Mikimoto jewelry
- Streep's Prada pumps retail for $1,270 and feature dramatically elongated pointed toes
Content creator Amelia Dimoldenberg, who makes a cameo in the film, said the original movie changed her life when she saw it at age 12. "I remember seeing it when I was 12 years old, I went to the cinema to see it and I don't want to just sound dramatic but I do think it changed my life," she told the BBC.
Immigration activism context
Hearon's anti-ICE stance reflects broader Hollywood criticism of immigration enforcement. The American Immigration Council reports that for every ICE arrest in December and January involving someone with a serious criminal conviction, there were 12 arrests of people with no criminal record. As of March, 23 people have died in ICE custody, with nearly 70,000 people in ICE detention facilities.
When asked why he continued wearing the pin months after peak protest activity, Hearon responded: "They've continued to be engaged in destroying our communities. And so I'm still thinking about it. No shade to anyone who's not wearing one. It's like we all do different types of work in different ways."
Several Hollywood figures including Ava Phillippe, Billy Eichner, Mandy Moore and Chrishell Stause liked the USA Today video of Hearon's comments on social media.
How the outlets are framing it
Just Jared led with Hearon's political statement and provided extensive quotes about his immigration stance.
WWD focused entirely on Meryl Streep's Prada footwear, detailing the $1,270 pumps' construction and styling.
The BBC took a broad entertainment angle, covering cast interviews and premiere atmosphere without mentioning the political pin.
Page Six emphasized Anne Hathaway's risqué Versace gown and the fashion spectacle of the event.
Harper's Bazaar highlighted Streep's Runway magazine clutch as the ultimate movie reference accessory.
Bridgerton star Simone Ashley called her role "one of the highlights of my career" and described working with the original cast as "a masterclass." The sequel arrives 20 years after the original film became a cultural phenomenon, with Blunt noting that thousands of people gathered to watch filming in New York.
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