Community Corner

Amy Poehler Posts Emotional Video About News of Boston Marathon Bombing

Comedic actor Amy Poehler was quite serious, and sincere, when posting a video response to a young fan who asked watching online videos.

Comedic actress and improv aficionado Amy Poehler, who grew up in neighboring Burlington and is well known for her work on NBC's Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, put aside the comedy in an online video following the Boston Marathon bombings.

The video was part of Poehler's online question show "Smart Girls Ask Amy," that was posted on April 18, three days after the bombing but before one suspect was killed and the other captured.

In the video Poehler is responding to a question by 16-year-old fan Millie, who asked about watching videos online. The teenager said many of her friends watch a lot of online videos, and she feels left out when she doesn't participate, but also doesn't see the need to view all of the media on the internet.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Poehler took the opportunity to address the question with the Boston Marathon bombings as an example. The video is titled "I Love You Boston."

"In light of recent events we have been looking at photographs that are really hard to take and I've been thinking of what these images do our brains and our hearts," Poehler said. "It's been tough, hasn't it? We're just bombarded by stuff now. Everywhere we go there is just some picture that is worse than the one before. I wonder if we could soften our hearts and minds and our eyes. I wonder if we could give our eyes a break and see things in a different way."

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Poehler, who appeared drawn and emotional, said that people feeling the need to look away and give themselves a break from the bad news of the world should give themselves the opportunity to do so.

"I kind of feel like my eyes need a break, don't you?" she said. "If you do my encouragement to you and to myself is to take it. It's okay not to be looking at what everyone else is looking at all of the time ... to be okay with letting some things rest in peace."

Poehler ended the video with a straightforward message to the city that has suffered much in the last week.

"I love you Boston," she said.

What do you think of Poehler's message? Let us know in the comments below.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here