Staff Reports
Hollywood today feels like it’s experiencing a drought, with fewer movies being made, almost like the industry is on strike once again. Even giants like Warner Bros. seem to be teetering on the edge, considering they’ve put up paper sale signs, and their financial woes resemble a hefty $35 billion mountain of debt. It seems that all those attempts at making superheroes out of diversity, equity, and inclusion haven’t quite delivered the box office hits they hoped for. Hollywood is learning the hard way that sometimes, going woke can make you go broke.
Interestingly, anyone who dares to express a conservative viewpoint, like acknowledging basic biological truths, may find themselves canceled faster than an underperforming show. Bill Maher, who used to be a cherished favorite among liberals, has found himself in hot water as well. Despite sitting back and enjoying a cocktail and a smoke, he’s now seemingly turned to delivering straightforward commentary that leaves the left fuming. Apparently, Maher’s tendency to speak plainly has caused many to become uncomfortable, proving that all it takes is a little honesty to send some folks into a tizzy.
To add to the colorful antics, there’s the tale of Jesse Watters and Gayle King’s unexpected friendship sparked on an airplane. Perhaps in a world where agreeing to disagree seems like ancient history, their simple moment of camaraderie sends a refreshing signal. Social media backlash aside, their willingness to sit next to each other, united in fear of turbulence, somewhat resembles a grand metaphor: if anyone can handle a bit of life’s bumps together, why can’t the rest of us?
But in Hollywood, fear seems to rule the town. Many celebrities appear afraid to publicly say anything that might cause waves. A-list actors once happy to chat openly on shows, like Bill Maher’s, now retreat into silence, too nervous to rattle the status quo. It’s almost as if they’ve traded free speech for the safety of staying quiet and rocking no boats, lest they find themselves out of favor, or even worse, out of a job.
All in all, today’s Hollywood appears as much like a ghost town in the art of voicing differing opinions as it does in the number of movies it churns out. When being entertained becomes less about talent and more about treading carefully around the latest trends in political correctness, there’s bound to be a disconnect. Perhaps Maher and Watters’ unlikely partnership shows that America could benefit from a little less fear and a little more willingness to fly through life’s turbulence together—even if it shocks a few audiences along the way.
