Josh Duhamel appeared on a recent episode of Megyn Kelly’s podcast (via Entertainment Weekly) and shared his opinion that actors should remain silent about politics.
“I have strong opinions about things, but I don’t really talk about them because I’m like, ‘Why would I turn away half my audience?’ Because I respect how they think about things, but I’m not going to lecture them,” Duhamel said. “They can believe what they want to believe. I’m just here to make cool stuff.”
When Kelly pointed out that there is a “growing trend” of Hollywood celebrities not speaking out on political issues, the “Ransom Canyon” actor said “that makes sense,” as people need to keep their personal opinions out of their work.
“If you really want to be successful in this business, why would you let half your audience despise you for your beliefs? Maybe they don’t care. I don’t know,” Duhamel said. “So, I look at this as a business decision, you know? I’m just here to make cool movies, cool TV. I’m here to make cool stuff. I’m a court jester, you know? If I want to lecture you about what I believe politically, I’ll run for office, but I’m not going to (not) do that.”
Jennifer Lawrence made headlines last fall when she said during a press tour that she no longer knows whether to speak out about politics. The Oscar winner has been outspoken against Donald Trump during the first US presidential administration, particularly writing an op-ed after Election Day declaring that Trump’s victory meant that “white men are the only people who feel safe[in America]and whose rights are recognized and respected.” But when asked last November on the podcast “The Interview” what he thought about what he says now about Trump and politics, Lawrence replied: “I really don’t know if I should.”
“The first Trump administration was so violent. How could we let this go? I felt like I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off,” Lawrence added. “But as we’ve learned, election after election, celebrities have no influence on who people vote for. So what am I doing? I’m just sharing my opinion about something that adds fuel to the fire that’s tearing our country apart. We’re so divided.”
“I’m also an artist, so I think I’m in a complicated readjustment. Given this temperature and the way things are unfolding, I don’t want to start turning my back on films and art that have the potential to change people’s consciousness and change the world just because they don’t like my political opinions. I’m still obsessed with what I’m doing. I want to protect my craft so that I can continue to grow…I look at the faces of actors who have had incredible careers and made incredible contributions, and half the internet doesn’t want to see their faces.”I’m so angry with those people and it feels so wrong. ”
One person who agrees with Lawrence’s opinion that “celebrities have absolutely no influence” on U.S. elections is HBO’s “Real Time” host Bill Maher. He bluntly told the California Post in January that Hollywood celebrities need to “shut up” when it comes to politics if Democrats are to have any chance of taking back the White House in future elections.
“Hollywood is in some ways the epicenter of the woke left. I don’t think they’re doing any favors for Democrats,” Maher said. “If Democrats want to win elections in the future, I think the first thing they should do is tell celebrities, ‘Shut up. You guys aren’t helping. You don’t think most people in this country are sensible or aware of reality.'”
Watch Duhamel’s interview on Kelly’s podcast in the video below.
