'I had to get out': Sophie Turner reveals her exit from America was partly prompted by 2022 Uvalde school massacre

Sophie Turner said that one of the reasons she chose to leave the country was the 2022 mass shooting that occurred at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas
PUBLISHED MAY 16, 2024
One of the reasons Sophie Turner left the United States was the 2022 Uvalde school shooting (Getty Images)
One of the reasons Sophie Turner left the United States was the 2022 Uvalde school shooting (Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND: Like a Hollywood fairytale, Sophie Turner's career arc spans from child actor to major role, marriage, and parenthood. Prepared to light up screens once again, the star discusses her decision to leave America for the first time since her divorce from Joe Jonas.

The 'Game of Thrones' actor stated in an interview with British Vogue that one of the reasons she chose to leave the country was the 2022 mass shooting that occurred at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by British Vogue (@britishvogue)


 

Lax US gun control laws led Sophie Turner to move back to Britain

An 18-year-old gunman stormed Robb Elementary in May 2022 and killed 19 students and two teachers. It took over 400 law enforcement officers 77 minutes to confront and kill the gunman on that particular day.

According to Everytown Research, Texas does not have strict gun regulations. Even after Uvalde, the bloodiest shooting at a Texas public school, lawmakers in the United States are still unable to enact meaningful gun control legislation.

A month later, the states were given the authority to determine whether or not a pregnant woman could have an abortion, overturning the Americans' constitutional right to an abortion. Abortion is currently illegal or severely restricted in about half of the states, per HuffPost.

Speaking to Vogue, the British actor stated in the feature released on Wednesday, May 15, "I couldn’t fathom being a mother of one of those children, knowing that this was something your country could fix, that they’d rather have rights to guns than give kids a right to life."

"Meanwhile, women in the US are being stripped of their rights, left, right, and center. It all contributed to this feeling of I have to get out, I have to get out," Turner added.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by S O P H I E T U R N E R (@sophiet)


 

Turner returned to her UK residence just before she and her ex-husband, American singer Joe Jonas, announced their divorce in late 2023.

In the interview with British Vogue, Turner also opened up about her split with Jonas and how she didn't enjoy being treated like Joe Jonas' wife when they were together.

Sophie Turner previously said she needed to return to the UK for her mental health

The 'Game of Thrones' star and her ex-husband Joe Jonas were reportedly getting ready to file for divorce when Turner expressed her desire to return to her own country.

In a May 2022 interview with Elle UK, Turner expressed how much she missed England.

"The people, the attitude, everything. I’m slowly dragging my husband back. I really love living in America but, for my mental health, I have to be around my friends and my family," she said.

"And also for my daughter ― I would love her to get the education and school life that I was so lucky to have," the actor continued, adding that she was expecting her second child.

"England would ideally be the final destination, but [Joe] might take quite a bit of convincing!" she added.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner attends HBO Max's
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner announced their divorce in late 2023 (Getty Images)

In 2017, Turner and Jonas became engaged at the ages of 21 and 28, respectively. Later, they exchanged vows in two different ceremonies in 2019.

The couple has two daughters together - Willa was born in 2020, while the other daughter was born in July 2023. The name of their second child is yet to be made public.

MORE STORIES

The post Khloe Kardashian liked featured Charlie Kirk speaking with a fan at an event about his devout Christian faith
Sep 13, 2025
Whitney Cummings sparked widespread outrage after posting a controversial tweet about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Sep 13, 2025
Prince Harry was spotted entering King Charles’s London residence, months after saying his father had ignored his calls
Sep 11, 2025
Rosie O'Donnell said Ellen DeGeneres’ friendship denial hurt so much she printed T-shirts for her staff reading, 'I don’t know Rosie, we’re not friends'
Sep 10, 2025
A post alleged that Karoline Leavitt called Patti LaBelle 'just a singer,' leading LaBelle to deliver a seven-word response that froze the studio
Sep 10, 2025
Jennifer Lopez feels free channeling emotions into music, but Ben Affleck is embarrassed and sees it as crossing a line, according to the source
Sep 9, 2025
Howard Stern added that he missed last week’s show due to illness, not contract talks, and addressed rumors of being fired from his own show
Sep 9, 2025
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement in August 2025 triggered a wave of pregnancy chatter after an ultrasound photo went viral
Sep 9, 2025
Ed Sheeran, 34, revealed that he was leaving Suffolk with his wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter
Sep 9, 2025
From Ice Spice’s chaotic corset to Paris Hilton’s flame dress, see the celebs who landed on the worst-dressed list at the 2025 VMAs
Sep 8, 2025