We thought Hollywood was healing.
M.I.A.’s removal from a hot musical tour suggests there’s still plenty of pain felt by right-leaning creatives.
The Blacklist against conservatives is very real and goes back years. An artist who leans to the Right must keep their conservative views to themselves or suffer professional repercussions.
Cancellations. Lost opportunities. Calcified careers.
James Woods: Oscar-Nominated Face of Hollywood Blacklist 2.0 https://t.co/wxuRYPizyR
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) August 5, 2024
We’ve seen some hopeful signs in recent years. Sylvester Stallone ended decades of nonpartisan interviews to endorse President Donald Trump sans apologies.
Dennis Quaid did something similar, doubling down by not only starring as The Gipper in “Reagan” but speaking kindly of President Trump in press interviews.
Both are actively employed in Hollywood as we speak. Music couldn’t cancel Nicki Minaj, at least not yet, for her MAGA turn.
The same can’t be said for M.I.A.
The 50-year-old rapper and singer is part of Kid Cudi’s current tour. Or, she was part of said tour.
M.I.A. railed against illegal immigration and shared her right-leaning views during a Dallas stop on the tour. It didn’t take long before Kid Cudi fired her for “offensive” comments.
“Offensive?” To whom?
Bruce Springsteen is on a wheezy “No Kings” tour, and he uses his platform to slam President Trump in ways many GOPers would find “offensive.” Has he been punished in any way? Did he flex his Boss side and fire himself?
Of course not. He can say whatever he pleases. It’s his tour and his fans.
Yet M.I.A. crossed a bright red line in the entertainment industry. See the problem here?
What’s worse? We’ve watched as the Legacy Media and Democrats (but we repeat ourselves) slammed attempts to fire Jimmy Kimmel for his crude attacks on the President.
Jokes are jokes, but assassination humor lands differently with the leader of the free world. Especially one who has stared down not one but two attempts on his life.
Now, after Cole Allen’s botched scheme at the White House Correspondents Dinner gala, three.
Kimmel should keep his job and let the marketplace decide if his cruel attempts at humor are worth people’s attention.
So why doesn’t the same apply to M.I.A., whose comments were far less incendiary?
Because most artists lean aggressively to the Left, doesn’t take kindly to free thinkers and only care about free speech if one of their own faces a censorship threat.
Even worse?
If you’ve noticed the lack of outrage in the press over M.I.A.’s dismissal, you’re not alone. And it speaks volumes.
Turns out the entertainment industry has plenty of healing left to be done.
