Hollywood celebrities have taken a break from cosplaying the '50s blacklist in films like “Trumbo” and “Good Night, and Good Luck” to create new versions, but Communists need not fear a Hollywood Blacklist 2.0.
In a city where it seems all of our political opinions come from Aaron Sorkin scripts, this kind of hypocrisy is commonplace.
These days, it's conservatives — or, in Cheryl Hines' case, those closest to conservatives — who are watching their backs on film and TV sets.
Hines is a registered Democrat, as is her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the 2024 presidential race to endorse Donald Trump, Hollywood has effectively stripped the “Crazy Hot People” cast member of his liberal perks.
Hines herself isn't a Trump supporter; rather, she's come under fire for suggesting that Trump supporters like her husband might actually have the country's best interests at heart, whether you agree with them or not.
The Hollywood Reporter issued an implicit threat to Hines.:
But despite her appeals of solidarity with her husband, Ms. Kennedy's decision to work so closely with Mr. Trump will at best make dinner table conversations awkward at home, and at worst, it could result in Hines being shunned altogether by Hollywood establishment figures.
Why would THR say that? Because they're the industry bible and they know what goes on behind the scenes at La La Land. Here's why.
The magazine understands that conservative stars such as James Woods and Kevin Sorbo have been forced out of Hollywood because of their beliefs, with both losing their agents over political differences.
Oscar-nominated Woods is effectively retired from Hollywood movies; Sorbo appears primarily in independent films; the “Hercules” star values freedom and dignity over repeating industry talking points.
And while there are loud and proud conservatives, like screen legend Jon Voight, there are plenty of others — actors, writers, crew — who have remained silent for fear of professional retaliation.
Conservative artists once met privately across Los Angeles under the name “Friends of Abe.” They networked, exchanged stories of horror, and At times, the abuse reduced me to tears.
Or, as THR puts it, “ignorance.” The full-scale neglect of Hines may already have begun.
Former “The West Wing” star Bradley Whitford attacks Hines On social media.
“@CherylHines, how incredible that you remain silent while your crazy husband supports a convicted rapist who brags about stripping women of their basic rights. What courage! What a great example for your kids. Such a courageous figure.” Whitford wrote to X..
Whitford recently starred in the madcap dystopian fantasy series The Handmaid's Tale, which he often says reflects the right's intolerant and misogynistic politics. But this outspoken feminist, who ranks higher than Hines in the Hollywood pecking order, seems happy to bully the 58-year-old woman for having the “wrong” opinions. Bradley, are you being so vulgar?
In a city where it seems all of our political opinions come from Aaron Sorkin scripts, this kind of hypocrisy is commonplace.
Perhaps the upcoming “Reagan” could have used a rewrite from “The American President” screenwriter so that film publicists wouldn't have had to face Facebook's throttling of their promotion, but the biopic starring Dennis Quaid dares to portray our nation's 40th president in a favorable light and to offer jobs to Voight, Sorbo, and openly conservative stars like Nick Searcy and Robert Davi.
Of course, “Reagan,” which opens Aug. 30, was made outside the Hollywood ecosystem. It's Blacklist 2.0. You won't hear any complaints from Whitford or most of his colleagues.
Emmy Award winner Alec Baldwin said such anti-conservative bigotry is “unfortunate” he said in an Instagram post. It's remarkable that this prominent Democrat has continued to work despite his past outbursts and the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halina Hutchins.
That said, Hollywood loves a second act, and there are few mistakes that can't be redone as long as someone can make money from them.
Unfortunately for Cheryl Hines, her MAGA affiliation is likely one of the reasons why.
