Billy Bob Thornton Mocks Political Celebrities
'Landman' star cites Ricky Gervais' Golden Globes rant on Joe Rogan podcast
Billy Bob Thornton has never won a Best Actor Oscar. Yet.
The 70-year-old star still has a resume most would kill to call their own.
- “Sling Blade”
- “Monster’s Ball”
- “Bad Santa”
- “Tombstone”
- TV’s “Fargo”
- “A Simple Plan”
- And, now, “Landman”
Thornton dropped by “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Friday to share stories about his band, The Boxmasters, his lack of formal acting training and more.
In the process, he embraced Ricky Gervais’ iconic 2020 Golden Globes speech. You know the one.
Gervais skewered celebrities who use awards show podiums to lecture viewers on how to vote, feel or think.
A money quote?
So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.
Thornton is on Team Gervais.
The actor and Rogan explored how modern actors no longer share a mystique their predecessors had during their wide-ranging chat. Thornton suggests a key reason why.
Many elite actors are over-exposed in today’s culture. We see them eating hot wings, posting on Instagram and talking on the “Today” show.
There’s another reason, one Rogan was quick to bring up.
“It certainly happens when you hear actors talk about politics. When actors become activists, it’s like, ‘OK,'” Rogan said with an audible moan.
“I donate to a lot of charities, mainly children’s stuff, but nobody knows it. I don’t go to the awards show and talk about it when I’m getting my award. It’s like Ricky Gervais said … ‘come up here, accept your little award, and f*** off,'” Thornton paraphrased.
“Unless you have really studied stuff and know about a subject fully, who the hell would want to listen to an actor or musician talk about politics?” Thornton continued. “Are we supposed to follow this? If we are, what if they lead you down the wrong road?”
Thornton dubbed himself a radically moderate and left it at that.
The second season of Paramount+’s “Landman,” from the Taylor Sheridan universe, debuts Nov. 16.
