Actor Kurt Russell Slams Hollywood Celebrities Who Get Political, Tells Them To Be Quiet

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by Josh Ford | 24News

Kurt Russell was very forthcoming in an interview, explaining why Hollywood stars should stay out of politics. In fact, he surprised many in the Hollywood crowd with his views on their actions.

Kurt Russell believes Hollywood stars should stay out of the political realm, and he made that crystal clear during an interview with The New York Times. The Overboard actor, who identifies as a “hardcore libertarian,” admitted his opinion on politics varies greatly from most Hollywood celebrities and entertainers.

Russell was reacting to the controversial climate, where many Hollywood celebs are weighing in on politics, and he thinks that voicing such opinions is “detrimental” to actors. “I’ve always been someone who felt we are court jesters. That’s what we do,” Russell said. “As far as I’m concerned, you should step away from saying anything so that you can still be seen by the audience in any character.”

Kurt Russell in the 2015 film The Hateful Eight 

“There’s no reason entertainers can’t learn just as much as anybody else about a subject, whatever it is,” Russell continued. “But I think that what’s sad about it is that they lose their status as a court jester. And I’m a court jester. That’s what I was born to do.” Russell, who started out as a child actor in Hollywood in 1962, appears to be sending a message to Hollywood celebrities, especially comedians.

When it comes to Hollywood comedians who have transitioned into using a widely seen platform to push their personal politics, Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar come to mind. Goldberg refused to say Donald Trump’s name during his presidency, instead referring to the 45th president as “you know who.” According to CNN, Goldberg said that she “can’t” use Trump’s name in conjunction with the word “President,” even though she knows that “people don’t like that I don’t do it.”

Kurt Russell was asked to explain his stance on gun control and the Second Amendment on The View with Joy Behar

Furthermore, Joy Behar called Donald Trump “a domestic terrorist,” and Goldberg and Behar haven’t limited their political opinions to just Trump. The pair blasted Republicans Sarah Palin and Kimberly Klacick while openly supporting Democrats like Barack Obama and Joe Biden. According to Kurt Russell, comedians, who are our modern-day court jesters, lose their very important function in our society when they cross over into air ing their own political beliefs.

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“A court jester isn’t always funny,” The Hateful Eight star said. “A court jester is the only one who can walk into the castle and put the king down as long as he doesn’t hit too close to home. I think that’s been a big, important part of all cultures throughout history, and I’d like to see it stay in ours.” Russell is referring to “the Fool,” which dates back to William Shakespeare’s King Lear, whose purpose was to make the king laugh, yet in reality, “the Fool” uses irony and sarcasm to point out the monarch’s faults as no one else can.

During an interview on The View, Kurt Russell was asked by Whoopi Goldberg about gun control and where he stands on the Second Amendment. “The last thing I like to watch is entertainers or actors get political,” Russell began. “It’s just something I can’t stand watching.” The longtime actor then explained that he had “begrudgingly made comments” on gun control after he was “ambushed” in an interview about the gun violence in The Hateful Eight.

“So having said that, I was kind of asked to put it in context somehow with this movie,” Russell said. “In reality, when we’re dealing with things like terrorism, we’re all going to have different opinions on how to do it, how to deal with it. Mine happens to be, that I think there’s a very strong reason the Founding Fathers had for the Second Amendment and that is that no government ever hasn’t had to fight its own people. I think that’s an important part of our existence.”

Many may agree or disagree with Kurt Russell’s take on topics like gun control, but his statements on court jesters no longer having a positive effect on our nation has merits. When a comedian’s own political beliefs take precedence over entertaining an audience, they can lose what made them great and relevant. Oftentimes, they end up sounding like a broken record of hate.

There are those Americans who long for the heyday when comedic actors such as Don Rickles and Dean Martin would “roast” celebrities and politicians. Even in the early days of Saturday Night Live, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and the rest of the first SNL cast members had Americans in stitches with their routines on politics because it was done in good taste, while they kept their own political views out of the limelight.

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12 thoughts on “Actor Kurt Russell Slams Hollywood Celebrities Who Get Political, Tells Them To Be Quiet

  1. I completely agree with Kurt. He is a common sense person/ actor who is one of the best actors & seems so down to earth. Love him, love his movies & love his ideals. He has my vote always & he played baseball in my hometown when my brother was a bat boy, he is & always has been awesome in my book ♥️

      1. Entertainers, celebrities and athletes that air their political views to their audience and fans is in a way professional suicide. The musical artists and actors that I used to follow now have me disappointed and disillusioned at their decision to step into political controversy with their opinions. They end up exposing themselves in sometimes unfavorable ways.

      2. I agree. How many said if Trump made president, they were going to leave the country. Y didn’t they? Won’t hurt my feeling r miss them.

  2. The politicians are also the court jesters. Many have no experience in the political arena. Actors have a voice that most people do not have but we all have the option to agree or disagree

  3. I agree. It’s not an actors job to promote politics. Nor is it their wheelhouse.

    Using your popularity and platform to influence others
    Is both insincere and manipulation. You are popular for your craft, not your thoughts and money.

    1. He is so right love this guy and his wife.
      Whoopi and that joy .
      They are haters .
      Hate there show never watch that show
      I just hater that show.
      They talk out of there asses.
      They are fools low down
      P.O.S .
      Why are they still on that Bull shit view.
      Why ?
      Because they so fuckin old who will give them parts on any thing.
      People Needs To BOYCOTT THE VIEW.
      The money they make is bull shit.
      I hope them bitches on the View they fuckin die .

  4. If I were hiring an actor to work in a large budget film, I would NEVER hire one that publically expresses their political opinions because, you want to sell your film to everyone. If someone like Alex baldwin, whoopi Goldberg etc wanted the part, THAT would limit my audience to half the population who love them and half that hate them. An actor that stays silent about their political opinions

  5. Whoopie s a prime example of what he’s talking about. I loved her as a comedian. Now can’t stand the sight of her. Now she’s nothing but full of hate.

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