Canadian Actress Criticizes Tom Selleck’s Views on Political Expression
Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany recently criticized Tom Selleck for his reluctance to engage in political discussions, labeling his stance as “cowardly.” In her view, she argues that all entertainment is inherently political.
During a Monday episode of the Zeteo podcast with Mehdi Hasan, Maslany stated, “Artists are like mirrors to the world, to society. We have to name things — it’s such an important, intrinsic part of our job.”
Hasan shared his thoughts on the matter, recalling an interview with Selleck. He mentioned that Selleck was asked about his lack of comments on Trump, explaining that he prefers not to enter politics to avoid upsetting half his audience. “He said, ‘Look, I don’t dabble in politics because I don’t understand why you want to piss off half the country if your job is entertaining the country,’” Hasan explained.
Maslany responded to Hasan’s mention of a famous quote by Michael Jordan—that Republicans buy shoes too—by asserting, “But all of it is political, like, everything is political.”
The Orphan Black star further argued that entertainment reflects perspectives and cultural representations. “All entertainment is political, because it has a viewpoint, and it has a perspective,” she added. “In my mind, there’s no disconnect.” She pointed out that individuals like Selleck and Jordan, who are wealthy, might have a lot to lose by taking a stand.
“Art should destabilize people, too,” Maslany continued, humorously criticizing the premise of Selleck’s show, Magnum, P.I. “I mean, I’m not thinking Tom Selleck is going, like, ‘Magnum, P.I. should…’ really disturb people on a core level,” she laughed. “But, like, art moves people. Whether that’s in a shock way, a laughter way, all of it. It’s a communication with the world.”
Hasan agreed, stating, “You can’t ward it off or separate it,” a sentiment Maslany strongly supported, declaring, “No, 100 percent not.” She added that this mentality is fundamentally strange and appears cowardly, especially among celebrities.
In a broader discussion, Maslany expressed her opposition to the Paramount merger, suggesting it may restrict diverse voices in entertainment. She shared her concerns that the merger could filter content through a conservative lens, potentially limiting narratives that critique the current administration. “I’ve heard of shows being cancelled for that very reason,” she noted, emphasizing her apprehension about constraining the range of viewpoints in media.
