13 Boomer Celebrities That Millennials And Gen-Z Still Respect Because They Haven't Made Us Cringe With Any Problematic Comments
A lot of boomers have a strong reputation for being the relatives you only see on holidays. They tend to say something cringeworthy around the table that totally derails Thanksgiving dinner — and it often includes the phrase "traditional values", which we know is just slang for "racist and anti-gay."
Thankfully, they're not all this way. Here's a list of boomer celebrities that seem like they would be the cool aunts and uncles who I wouldn't have to avoid at family events:
1.Liza Minnelli
Liza hasn't said anything to say that would constitute an "Okay, boomer" because she continues to be on the progressive side of the conversation. She's always been an ally and was one of the first mainstream celebrities to speak out against the stigma surrounding AIDS and advocate for research to combat the disease way back in the early '90s. In regards to the LGBTQ+ community, she told Billboard, "Their examples have shaped me, and without them, my life would be empty."
2.Dolly Parton
Aunt Dolly, the original cool aunt on Hannah Montana, has always been ahead of her time with body positivity with owning her sexuality — but above all? She's a queen of philanthropy. Her foundation has donated over 100 million books to kids. She could easily be a billionaire by now, but she isn't only because she keeps giving money away. We love our ethical auntie.
3.Keanu Reeves
I have nothing but love for everyone's favorite internet daddy. I have to respect this king who donates to children's cancer research and is generally just a super chill dude. He stays to himself and doesn't bother anyone, which is super rare for his generation. You want to know what is even more rare for a boomer? He's a good tipper. I rest my case.
4.Cher
Cher is a philanthropist, an advocate, and the woman who's launched a thousand memes. I've seen the clip of her saying "Wagon wheel watusi" from her role in the movie Burlesque so many times that now my brain repeats those three words on an endless loop. She's always been a force of women empowerment, and this only adds to her meme-ability. I can't mention Cher without referencing this iconic interview when she said, "Men are a luxury...not a necessity. Like dessert. You don't need them to live."
5.Stanley Tucci
Now this is not just a boomer that's chill with me, but also a man I would trust to watch my drink at a bar. I've literally never heard Stanley say anything cringeworthy at all. He focuses on acting, good food, and spreading joy. When he's on set, he goes out of his way to make sure other actors feel comfortable. During their movie, The Lovely Bones (a movie with some seriously heavy content), he always made sure to check in on his costar Saoirse Ronan to make sure she was comfortable.
6.Julia Louis-Dreyfus
If "booked and busy" were a person, it would be Julia Louis-Dreyfus. After Seinfeld, she continued to crank out banger after banger as the starring role in TV shows like The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep or stealing the scene guest starring in shows like Arrested Development and 30 Rock. She even joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her role in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. All this time that she's stayed on on our screens, she hasn't said anything cringe that made me think, "Oh, no. Not you, girl." Instead, she has used her platform to advocate for the environment and speak out against big oil.
7.Lionel Richie
This man is such a lovely human who has always given us immaculate vibes with his sweet tunes. Yacht rock would be nothing without Lionel. As a judge on American Idol, he aims to build performers up instead of knocking them down, even though harsh criticism was the standard for artists when he started out. He doesn't have an "I suffered, so you should too" mindset, and instead he works to help artists feel better about themselves in order to propel them further into success. He just gets it.
8.Weird Al Yankovic
Just an unproblematic man with luscious curls, an accordion, and a dream. I honestly didn't even know he was a boomer until I started making this because he has such a childlike sense of wonder and whimsy. This is a guy who just wants to play his silly little songs and have a fun time. He doesn't make a lot of political statements, but when he does, he makes light of the hellscape we're living in.
9.Stevie Nicks
Just thinking about Stevie Nicks makes me want to grab my shawl and twirl. I love this witchy woman. She's still in the spotlight but hasn't shown any signs of shady boomer antics. She has always been candidly pro-choice, supports wounded veterans, and has spoken out against racism. Stevie is just one of those artists that has stood the test of time both musically and socially.
10.Meryl Streep
I can't really say Meryl seems like a cool aunt because that's mother!! I have to show my respect to the person who set the record for the most Oscar nominations for any actor or actress — but apart from her professional success, she's also supported the "Time's Up" movement and the SAG-AFTRA actors strike. In reference to the strike, she said, "We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations who are bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our profession."
11.Sheryl Crow
Every day really is a winding road, but it feels like a smoother ride when I'm listening to the soothing melodies that Sheryl Crowe has been blessing us with for decades. She's just as calm a presence in person as she is in her music, and even though she's a boomer, I would never dare throw an "Okay, boomer" her way while she's speaking up for the trans community and advocating for gun control.
.@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023
@SherylCrow
12.Sandra Bullock
Sandy B, my queen. This is a true girl's girl. She thanks the women who came before her for paving the way and rejects the societal pressures that tell women that we should be fighting each other. In addition to being an advocate for women, she has also expressed that, "Racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, homophobia, anything Nazi [related] have no place in my life."
13.Conan O’Brien
I usually have to fight the urge to reply, "Okay, boomer." when I hear someone talking about how being gay is ~just a phase~, but Conan is a boomer who not only has always supported gay rights, but even officiated a wedding on live television way back in 2011.
