Hollywood on Edge After Trump’s ‘Devastating’ Victory: ‘There’s a Lot of Fear’

As a film enthusiast who has spent years observing the intricate dance between Hollywood and politics, I must say that the 2024 election results have left me feeling akin to a character in one of those tragic Greek dramas – shocked, dismayed, yet strangely compelled by the unfolding narrative.


5th November saw Mark Ruffalo preparing to watch election results, hoping Kamala Harris would defeat Donald Trump. However, as one state after another leaned towards Trump, Ruffalo began contemplating America’s upcoming day. He expressed to EbMaster at the ACLU of Southern California’s Bill of Rights Awards that his thoughts were filled with concern for marginalized groups who would suffer from the harshness and cruelty he believes Trump’s win would unleash. This, he said, was what hit him hardest – the realization that such a victory could be allowed to occur.

The “Avengers” actor isn’t the only figure in the entertainment industry experiencing the phases of grief following Donald Trump’s re-election. In fact, Hollywood had heavily backed Harris, arranging Zoom fundraisers, disseminating messages of encouragement on social media, and campaigning in crucial states. Her loss was a crushing setback. Unlike Trump’s initial victory in 2016, which seemed sudden and unexpected, leaving the artistic community yearning to be part of the resistance, this time around, things felt distinct.

In 2016, the general sentiment was intense anger, but people were driven – filled with motivation. They yearned to act and move forward, according to an inside source at an agency. However, in 2024, the mood seems far more subdued and accepting.

Laura Friedman, a previous film producer who recently won a seat in the U.S. House as a Democrat, expresses concern among her peers exceeds what it was eight years ago. She remarks, “We’ve witnessed his unusual actions, his corruption and favoritism — we’ve seen it all, and yet people still cast their votes for him.” She admits, “There’s a lot of apprehension.

The tension was evident at the polished events held in Los Angeles over the weekend. While celebrities continued to strike poses on red carpets, their radiant smiles concealed glimmers of concern and melancholy. Ciara, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, expressed that the past few days had been “otherworldly” at Baby2Baby’s annual gala.

This coming Saturday saw a dazzling premiere of Universal’s “Wicked,” offering a welcome diversion from the gloom engulfing Hollywood. Executives attended with their children, while renowned aficionados of the musical (like Jennifer Lopez and Troye Sivan) stepped into Oz for an evening. Just a couple days prior, during the film’s LA press tour, leading actress Cynthia Erivo highlighted similarities between the magical narrative and current events.

She expressed that it’s perfectly fine to appreciate our unique qualities, “I wish this understanding encourages us to grasp the essence of empathy and the importance of accepting others, despite their differences from ourselves.

At the post-event, numerous individuals seemed to be consoling themselves with the evening’s signature drink, the Ozmopolitan. Some females at the “Wicked” celebration even recounted instances of phoning pharmacies in an attempt to stockpile birth control pills. They appeared to be serious about it.

As a supporter, I’ve noticed that some high-profile executives like Jeff Bezos have extended congratulations to Trump on his return to power, while David Zaslav, head of Warner Bros. Discovery, anticipates a more lenient stance towards future mergers from the new administration. However, there are worries about how Trump, known for his disdain for the media and his thirst for retribution, might react if Hollywood voices criticism too harshly. For instance, “Saturday Night Live” took a playful jab at this apprehension during their recent cold open, with the cast humorously pledging support for Trump. Ego Nwodim exclaimed, “I keep waking up in the middle of the night, but it’s with joy, of course.

If studios and streamers don’t mind upsetting a sensitive president, they might worry instead about losing the support of the majority of voters who gave him a significant win. For the first time in this election, Trump secured the popular vote.

At the Bill of Rights Awards, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt stated that some people’s perceptions about the opinions of Americans might change. He added that if you asked a typical Hollywood executive who they believed would win the popular vote in 2024, many wouldn’t have predicted Donald Trump. Gordon-Levitt further suggested that while Hollywood is likely to focus on commercial interests, this disclosure may cause those interests to shift.

Others need some time to think about the result and would prefer a quiet moment for contemplation, before making a decision on their response.

According to advisor Liana Schwarz, who guides Hollywood donors on topics like climate change, preserving democracy, and women’s rights, there won’t be a hasty response. Instead, it’s more about taking time for self-reflection to find the solution.

For celebrities who support specific causes, the emphasis lies in finding strategies to safeguard against potential dangers if a second term for Trump were to occur.

Schwarz remarks that the current state of shock isn’t as profound as it was in 2016. Instead, there’s a greater emphasis on taking action and working rather than planning protests or marches.

Matt Donnelly, Angelique Jackson and Marc Malkin contributed to this report.

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2024-11-13 23:48