No, you aren’t imagining things! For the past few years, a push for folks to get a second passport has led to many of our favorite celebrities moving out of America and getting dual citizenship. However, the mystery into this recent phenomenon has been kept a close secret… until now.
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Hollywood couple Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are the latest celebs to announce their second citizenship. According to ABC News, they were awarded citizenship to Guinea after tracing back their DNA to the West African country. “We think that you are among the worthy sons and daughters of this Guinea. You represent our country, the red-yellow-green flag all over the world,” Djiba Diakité, the head of the president’s cabinet, announced.
The actors join a hefty list of celebs who have left the country. Folks like actress Christina Milian, rapper Yasiin Bey and model Tyra Banks have all waved goodbye to the Stars and Stripes for a number of reasons. Even Jay-Z and Beyoncé seem to be plotting their exit, as reports of the couple buying a property in the U.K. shocked everyone last year.
There’s no word on whether Majors and Good will actually move to Guinea. But if they have plans to remain in the States, this begs the question: Why?
Guinea is one of the many African nations trying to bridge its gap with the greater diaspora. Ghana was the first to do so in 2019 with the “Year of Return” initiative. Under the program, many descendants of Ghana separated by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade were granted citizenship. In Guinea-Bissau, a neighboring country of Guinea, the “Decade of Return” program also provides a path to citizenship.
These programs are nations’ attempts to right the wrongs of chattel slavery and bridge the gap between countries. But although many Black celebrities have capitalized on this push toward dual citizenship, there are plenty of celebrities who simply left the U.S. without turning back.
It’s important to note that most celebs are still reportedly based in the U.S., but many did pack up everything after the 2024 election of President Donald Trump, the New York Post reported. This mass exodus snowballed into a larger conversation about who exactly deserves dual citizenship and whether celebrities are being performative or actually doing work.
Folks online have called out African nations for easily awarding citizenship. “Can the United States or any western countries give African celebrities free citizenship and passports like this,” @olacokers asked on X. “Something is wrong with us in Africa.”
@UtdLabista begged folks to consider what happen if the U.S. granted citizenship as easily as Guinea. “Imagine the scenes when it’s other way round, getting an American passport because your ‘DNA’ test confirmed your American ancestry,” they wrote.
“But as an African who lives in Africa outside of Guinea you’d struggle to get the basic things in Guinea,” @angelugo_ tweeted. “Just be popular and rich. They will bend rules in your favour.”
Despite backlash, many celebrities have used their citizenship and status to impact real change. Last year, Benin appointed filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis, as its ambassadors for African Americans.
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