‘Sopranos’ Star Drea de Matteo on Joining OnlyFans, Coming Out as a MAGA Supporter and Why She Believes ‘Half of Hollywood Is Voting for Trump’

As I delve into this captivating narrative, my heart swells with empathy for Janney de Matteo, a woman who has bravely chosen to walk her own path, defying societal norms and expectations. She’s a testament to resilience, a beacon of individuality, and an embodiment of the spirit that dares to challenge the status quo.


Previously uninvolved in politics, Drea de Matteo expressed her political stance only once, through a music video she directed for Shooter Jenning’s “Summer of Rage” in 2010, which was a veiled criticism of the Bush-Cheney administration’s continuous war machine. In 2020, she exercised her right to vote for the first time in a presidential election, choosing Joe Biden as her candidate to unseat Donald Trump from the White House. However, as the COVID pandemic entered its second year, the actress who played Adriana La Cerva on “The Sopranos” faced personal struggles, as she was the sole voice of conscience amidst a sea of moral decay in that series.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve always leaned towards the unconventional. Initially, I was hesitant about getting vaccinated. Instead, I chose to observe and see how things unfolded.

Due to her stance against vaccines, her relatives distanced themselves from her. She was no longer welcomed in high society circles like Hollywood. Moreover, her trusted agent, whom she regarded as a friend, decided to terminate their professional relationship with her.

“She tells me her termination came from her manager without any prior communication via phone or email. Unable to continue working after that point, she states. It’s bewildering for her to be castigated over a health decision when they constantly champion the idea of ‘Pro Choice.’ She wonders if they even realize their own contradiction.

Struggling to avoid bankruptcy, a mother of two started an OnlyFans account as a desperate measure to keep her home, and in doing so, she began to reassess her political views or lack thereof. “I was alone, and then I started meeting people who shared similar feelings,” she adds. This marked the beginning of a transformation that has led de Matteo into a circle of outspoken Hollywood supporters of Donald Trump – a group that includes Dennis Quaid, Rob Schneider, and Zachary Levi. De Matteo is not alone in this, as Emmy-winning actress Roseanne Barr is also openly supportive of the divisive 45th president, identifying with the MAGA movement.

This autumnal afternoon, ahead of a tightly contested presidential election whose result remains uncertain, the individual hailing from Queens is preparing for potential civil disturbances, regardless of the final outcome.

She mentions that someone is coming to take measurements for gates at her house, specifically for the end times. She’s relaxing in a swivel chair in her Laurel Canyon home, dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt featuring a machine gun from her Ultrafree streetwear line, which she launched with boyfriend Robby Staebler, drummer of UVWAYS (formerly All Them Witches). She adjusts large rose-tinted glasses and gets ready to take a hard stance against Hollywood’s Trump supporters.

She questions if Sean Penn is currently associated with the CIA, pointing out his surprising interview with El Chapo in a 2016 Rolling Stone article which occurred just before El Chapo’s arrest. She expresses her disillusionment with him, stating she’s unsure if she can continue to watch him as an actor. Her disappointment deepened when he brought an Oscar to Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine; she found it mortifying. Zelenskyy is connected to the Azov Battalion, and she finds herself frustrated by the uproar over alleged racism. She urges people to “Wake up America,” as the Azov Brigade has faced criticism for its neo-Nazi ideology and use of symbols linked to Nazism.

As a cinephile, I’m delving deeper into the cinematic world of Tinseltown, focusing now on the diverse group of Kamala Harris supporters in Hollywood, spanning from the young and vibrant to the seasoned and wise.

You’re expressing an opinion similar to Billie Eilish’s, ‘I feel more secure with Kamala as president.’ However, your reasoning seems to be that you have six security guards accompanying you daily while walking on the street, unlike your daughter in New York City. You seem concerned about her safety because she doesn’t have anyone escorting her. Even here in California, your kids are restricted from going out due to the current high crime rate.

Then she moves on to one of the entertainment industry’s most reliable Democratic Party voices.

She remarks, “I’m listening to Bette Midler repeatedly discussing reproductive rights, and she continues on this topic incessantly.” This matter concerns them deeply. In the face of potential global conflict, one might wonder why they are focusing on this issue when we should be concerned about everyone, including sons who may have to serve in war someday. They seem to only consider daughters in this context.

Regardless of the fact that she backs a president whose appointees contributed to the reversal of Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court, De Matteo personally identifies as pro-choice.

My great-grandmother provided abortions in Harlem during the 1950s. I’ve personally had two abortions myself. I identify as pro-choice, but I find that the current emphasis on choice has distorted the rights women have fought for so much that these rights no longer appear to be fundamental human rights. Instead, it seems like a political agenda that doesn’t benefit anyone.

If De Matteo’s political stance seems puzzling, she is quick to remind that her fellow Hollywood figures have views just as perplexing, having once criticized Dick Cheney. In September, the former vice president endorsed Harris, which led the Democratic candidate to express her gratitude and honor at receiving Cheney’s endorsement.

“Every time a celebrity endorses her, I reiterate that they stand with Dick Cheney,” she notes.

De Matteo understands that expressing these opinions could potentially harm her future opportunities in film and television, especially for her. However, men like Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, as well as Quaid, continue to find success. There seems to be less of a chance for redemption for MAGA women. Yet, de Matteo doesn’t seem bothered by this potential consequence.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, De Matteo had been gradually distancing herself from the entertainment industry. Following her remarkable work on what many consider the best TV series ever, she found it challenging to replicate that level of success. Despite taking on roles in shows like “Sons of Anarchy” and “Desperate Housewives”, she grew increasingly choosy about her projects, particularly if they required long-term absences from home.

She remembers being given an opportunity related to Marvel, but declined because her son would always cry whenever she went to Canada for brief appearances. She explains, “I decided, ‘No way.’ I had enough savings to cover our winter expenses, so I didn’t want to continue living as a person who carried Hermes bags and wore Gucci shoes. Honestly, I just didn’t care. I prefer wearing sweatpants and T-shirts.

Her decline in Hollywood’s limelight lines up with her foray into fashion. She established Ultrafree, a platform advocating free speech and challenging the system she despises. The brand’s T-shirts carry slogans such as “War Machine” and “thank you for recalling my confidential discussions and locations, big tech.” She also launched a jewelry line called Tombstone, capitalizing on the mob wife style she popularized on “The Sopranos.” Regardless of her choice, she has amassed enough wealth to employ a shrewd public relations team. She’s been spotted at Trump rallies in Coachella and political gatherings like Rescue the Republic in Washington D.C., where Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were among the speakers. Similar to Penn, she generated buzz when she appeared on “Jesse Waters Primetime” expressing her support for Trump.

She explains that she had been trying to stay low-key and not be too vocal. However, an unexpected move led her to join OnlyFans – a decision driven by necessity to save her home. In a peculiar manner, this action also served as a form of protest, a defiant ‘enough is enough’ kind of statement, encouraging people to embrace discomfort.

It turns out that her family has unexpectedly changed their stance, particularly concerning her involvement with OnlyFans (she continues to stay active on this platform as it offers substantial earnings for creators who post sexually suggestive or explicit content).

During the pandemic, my brother expressed concern, saying something like, ‘You’re putting everyone in your household at risk by not getting vaccinated.’ Later on, when I was forced to create an OnlyFans account to save my home since no one offered help because of my decisions, he said, ‘It’s your body, your choice. I stand with you,'” she remarks, giving a skeptical look.

Approaching her meeting with the gate installation crew, she emphasizes one last key aspect: Despite being part of a seemingly conventional sector like Hollywood, she underlines that she’s not considered an anomaly due to her opinions. Instead, she’s seen as an anomaly because she openly voices them.

“The people I’m around, a lot of liberals are voting for Trump. I think half of Hollywood is actually voting for Trump,” she says. “I know that I’ve gotten plenty of messages in my Inbox: ‘Thank you for saying things I can’t say.’”

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2024-11-02 19:23