
Matthew McConaughey Calls Out "Hollywood Hypocrisy" After Joe Biden Win
By Mustafa GatollariDec. 7 2020, Published 12:25 p.m. ET
Matthew McConaughey found himself in hot water on Twitter after stating that "Hollywood elites" shouldn't be surprised Trump supporters aren't accepting the results of the 2020 election after they've been "condescend[ed]" and "patronize[d]" by esteemed celebrities and artists.
During a discussion with Russell Brand on his Under the Skin podcast, the 2014 Oscar Winner was asked if he had witnessed a "condemnation and criticism of ordinary working people," in the entertainment industry.
Brand continued by saying, "[There is] a kind of offhandedness, like, ‘Oh, they’re dumb, they’re voting for Brexit, they’re voting for Trump.’ I don’t like it, and I don’t like to hear it."
McConaughey agreed, "There are a lot [of people] on that illiberal left that absolutely condescend, patronize, and are arrogant towards the other 50 percent."
He also pointed out the "double standard" that many of his fellow Hollywood creatives demonstrated, pointing out that they weren't accepting of Donald Trump's 2016 victory and attempted to discredit his Presidency. So that the same people shouldn't be surprised or condemn those on the far-right who are challenging Joe Biden's victory. He further expounded on his comments with Brand during a discussion with TIME.
What do you think about what @McConaughey is saying here?
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) December 1, 2020
Watch the full clip for more context here: https://t.co/cvZVl1OSu7
or listen to the rest of the podcast on @hearluminary pic.twitter.com/mKvEE1tSs5
"I’m sure you saw it in our industry when Trump was voted in four years ago, they were in denial that was real. Some of them were in absolute denial....it looks like Biden’s our guy. Now you’ve got the right that’s in denial, ’cause their side has fake news. And I understand, they’ve been fed fake news. No one knows what the hell to believe, right? So they’re putting down their last bastion of defense," McConaughey said.
The Failure to Launch star has stated that he would love for more Americans to meet one another in the middle and even "dare[d]" folks to "get aggressively centric."
He also stated that all of the tensions in the 2020 election between members of the far left and the far right ultimately created a perfect storm of brutal honesty, "I think what this year's election did is expose what we all kind of didn't really want to say out loud."
"I think what this year's election did is expose what we all kind of didn't really want to say out loud." Matthew @McConaughey on what divides us and how we can come together #TIME100Talks https://t.co/fvsO4qVKIK pic.twitter.com/vJIXSMP7HP
— TIME (@TIME) December 7, 2020
It didn't take long for McConaughey's comments to reach Twitter, where the star received criticism for stating that individuals on both side of the political spectrum are quick to criticize those with opinions that differed from their own.
Hmm a white privileged male from Texas
— TheSportsWhisperer...Monte🏈🏀⚾️🏒⚽️ (@Montejp231) December 7, 2020
Reminds me of when Trump said there are good people on both sides. When McConaughey becomes a person of color or has no job and is hungry, let's see if he has a new opinion. In the meantime, he has nothing to contribute.
— Stirring Up Good Trouble 🌊 (@good_stirring) December 7, 2020
Many piled the hate on McConaughey, conflating "conservative" talking points like 5G broadband causing the coronavirus with disputing election results in the same tweet.
I'm not gonna say I'm not a snarky dick to conservatives, but I'm not gonna be like "Oh, really? Is 5G causing the virus? Do tell. :D Oh, you went straight past 'disputing election results' to 'we won overwhelmingly!' That's interesting!"
— Keith Donovan (@DradeeusKedi) December 7, 2020
so sad that I cannot look at Matthew the same way anymore
— Wear A Fucking Mask 😷☮️🗽🌊🌈🐾👩🏻💻✌🏻🇺🇸 (@Rosemarie4311) December 7, 2020
Other people appreciated the actor's honesty and applauded his decision to speak his mind and encourage Americans to "meet in the middle." And there were also tons of Twitter users who expressed that extremists on both sides are more often than not the most vocal of individuals, as hyperbolic statements tend to garner more attention and attraction than those that are more centrist.
so sad that I cannot look at Matthew the same way anymore
— Wear A Fucking Mask 😷☮️🗽🌊🌈🐾👩🏻💻✌🏻🇺🇸 (@Rosemarie4311) December 7, 2020
Extremes on BOTH sides are dangerous. Left extremism including cancel culture and that mob mentality created fertile ground for Trump. Trump is far more dangerous, but it's possible for both sides to be idiotic. Centrism is the only hope. Logic, common sense, decency, empathy.
— Ingus Magillicutti (@IMagillicutti) December 7, 2020
McConaughey added that ultimately it's up to the American people to decide what direction they want to take the country in and it's "not up to our leaders" to make that decision.
But his comments caused a right political kerfuffle online.
Someone needs to tell McConaughey that it's not 'centrist' to sit on the fence between bigots and those standing against bigotry. It's collaboration.
— Jeeves says Black Lives Matter (@JeevesBun) December 7, 2020
There is a difference in subjective left/right values versus what the parties actually platform. That being said - simplifying it like you did is disingenuous
— SicilianProfit (@MPtrader99) December 7, 2020
not addressing the source of the contempt of the left and excusing the rights vile behavior over the last 4 years invalidates this for me.
— Steely Jan (@Woman_on_Pause) December 7, 2020
We are going to see a lot of this coming from right leaning centrists. They are trying to distance themselves from the last 4 years, even though they were complicit and quietly supporting the rights atrocities.
— Josh Schlesinger (Defiant Code Consulting, LLC) (@defiantcode_llc) December 7, 2020
I'm quite liberal, but I agree. Let's give centrist a shot and come together. We are more alike than different. Politics just tries to draw on the differences for votes. Common ground doesn't divide votes to your direction unfortunately.
— Daniel Tsosie (@DanielTsosie) December 7, 2020