Kirk Cameron has joined the list of celebrities leaving California. The Growing Pains actor announced his decision to leave the Golden State on Wednesday.
He shared his decision to move from his home state came after witnessing California “moving in a particular direction for a long time” and creating “so much division”.
The father-of-six revealed he moved to Tennessee, partially because three of his grown children live in the state and partially because he was looking for a place that gave him a “healthy freedom mindset.”
“If everything hits the fan and there’s some serious economic problems and division going on, they want to be around people like they think who are all about God, family, and country. It’s a really nice place to be,” he told the Washington Examiner.
Like it or not, Cameron discovered there are “a lot of California refugees” living in Tennessee.
“It’s shocking how many Californians are here. And when I see them in the grocery store, I tell them, ‘Don’t California our Tennessee,’” he joked.
Like his sister Candace Cameron Bure, many have left California “for safety and for security.” Cameron believes that although Tennessee seems to have a high number of former California residents, its “good wholesome values and, equally as important, good whiskey” make the state a more desirable place to live.
Kirk Cameron has joined the growing list of celebrities who are leaving California, citing the state’s shifting political and social climate. The Growing Pains actor announced his decision to relocate on Wednesday, explaining that the direction California has been moving in for years created “so much division.” He shared that he and his family have now settled in Tennessee, where they are finding a new sense of community and freedom.
Cameron, a father of six, revealed that the move was partly motivated by his desire to be closer to three of his grown children, who already live in the state. He also wanted to live in a place that values “a healthy freedom mindset.” In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Cameron expressed how he feels Tennessee is a great fit for his family: “If everything hits the fan and there’s some serious economic problems and division going on, they want to be around people like they think who are all about God, family, and country. It’s a really nice place to be.”
Cameron was surprised by the number of Californians who have also made the move to Tennessee. Referring to them humorously as “California refugees,” he joked, “When I see them in the grocery store, I tell them, ‘Don’t California our Tennessee.’” His sister, actress Candace Cameron Bure, has also moved away from California for similar reasons, citing concerns for safety and security.
Despite the influx of former Californians, Cameron is enthusiastic about his new home state, praising its “good wholesome values” and, in a lighthearted nod, “good whiskey” as reasons why Tennessee is a more desirable place to live.