Actor Glen Powell says he has no interest in discussing politics publicly, telling Esquire magazine that political conversation tends to drive people apart rather than bring them together.
Powell, known for roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, The Running Man and his streaming series Chad Powers, said his parents showed little interest in politics growing up, and that he has grown even less interested in the subject over time.
“Over time, I realized that politics divide people,” Powell told Esquire. “People trying to prove their point — for me, it’s the worst version of a conversation. I genuinely do not like the discourse.”
He added that political discussion “is not presently possible” in a healthy way right now, while saying he respects those who choose to engage in it. “I applaud people for jumping into those things and fighting for what they believe in. If I were a political person, I would be talking about it. For me, my calling is elsewhere,” Powell said.
Other celebrities making the same choice
Powell’s comments add him to a growing number of entertainers who have pulled back from political commentary in recent years.
Dwayne Johnson faced significant backlash after endorsing Joe Biden, despite having previously described himself as politically centrist. By July of this year, Johnson said he had decided to stop sharing his political views altogether.
“I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself. There are moments when, hey, there’s nothing we can’t talk about. If I’m wrong, I’ll tell you I’m wrong. Or if I feel like I got a leg up and this is the right way to go, I’ll share it with you. Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever. I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bullshit that comes with it,” Johnson said.
When the Democratic Party shifted its support from Biden to Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race, Johnson declined to endorse either candidate. “My goal is to bring this country together. I believe in that. There will be no endorsement. At this level of influence, I will keep my politics to myself. It is between me and the ballot box,” he said at the time.
Jennifer Lawrence, who had previously been openly critical of Republicans and Donald Trump, said last November that she had reconsidered the value of speaking out. “So, then what am I doing? I’m just sharing my opinion on something that’s going to add fuel to a fire that’s ripping the country apart. We are so divided,” she said.
Actors Josh Duhamel and Kevin James have also said they avoid political commentary, with Duhamel citing concern about alienating half of an audience and James saying he prefers to leave such matters to people more informed on the issues.
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