In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton sat down with host Joe Rogan for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on everything from muscle cars to social media.
But one moment stood out for its sheer lack of self-awareness: both men took aim at Hollywood celebrities who use their platforms to pontificate about politics, conveniently ignoring the elephant in the room—or rather, the podcast host sitting across the table.
During their discussion, Thornton criticized actors who accept awards and then launch into political speeches. “I donate to a lot of charities, mainly children’s stuff, but nobody knows it,” Thornton said. “I don’t go to the award show and talk about it when I’m getting my award.”
He referenced Ricky Gervais’s famous Golden Globes monologue, adding: “Come up here, accept your little award, and f**k off.” Thornton went on to question why anyone would want to listen to actors or musicians discuss politics unless they’ve “really studied stuff and really know about a subject fully.”
Rogan enthusiastically agreed, lamenting how celebrities become activists and lose their mystique. “Well, it certainly happens when you hear actors talk about politics,” he said. “When actors become activists, it’s like, okay.” The two bonded over the idea that entertainers should stick to entertaining, leaving political commentary to those more qualified.
The irony, of course, is staggering. Joe Rogan hosts one of the most politically influential platforms in the world, with millions of listeners tuning in to hear his thoughts on everything from vaccine mandates to election integrity to climate policy.
While Rogan may not consider himself a political pundit, his show has become a de facto political arena where politicians, activists, and controversial figures share their views with a massive audience. Whether he’s challenging COVID-19 narratives, discussing gun rights, or hosting presidential candidates, Rogan is deeply embedded in political discourse—arguably more so than most Hollywood celebrities combined.
Thornton’s criticism of celebrities using award shows as political platforms is fair enough. Few things are more tiresome than watching millionaires lecture the public about social issues while clutching gold statues. But the conversation becomes absurd when it unfolds on a podcast that regularly features political figures and ideological debates.
Rogan has hosted everyone from Senator Bernie Sanders to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, routinely weighing in on hot-button political topics with the confidence of someone who has, in his own words, “really studied stuff.”
The disconnect becomes even more glaring when you consider the reach and influence of Rogan’s platform compared to a single awards show speech. Rogan delivers hours of politically charged content multiple times per week to an audience that dwarfs most cable news networks. His episodes are downloaded millions of times, his clips go viral on social media, and his opinions shape public discourse in ways most actors could only dream of.
To be fair, Rogan might argue that he’s simply having conversations, not lecturing. But that distinction feels thin when those conversations consistently touch on political themes and influence public opinion.
Thornton, for his part, seems committed to staying out of the political fray. He described himself as a “radical moderate” with opinions that don’t belong to any political party, and emphasized that he believes in a “common sense party.”
The conversation also touched on the dangers of celebrities influencing their fans politically, with Thornton asking, “Who the hell would want to listen to an actor or a musician talk about politics?” It’s a valid question, but one that applies just as much to podcasters.
If Hollywood celebrities should shut up and act, perhaps podcast hosts should shut up and podcast.