As a follower who has witnessed the evolution of Hollywood over the past few decades, I must say that Jenna Ortega‘s recent comments on political correctness resonate deeply with me. Having grown up watching the industry transform into what it is today, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the days when artists were free to express their thoughts without fear of backlash or cancellation.
Place emphasis on actress Jenna Ortega, who plays the lead role in “Wednesday”, among those celebrities choosing to challenge the growing trend of “political correctness”. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega opened up about her work on the highly anticipated sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and the second season of “Wednesday”, as well as her frank opinions on political correctness. Her remarks follow the controversy faced by one of her past colleagues after expressing unpopular views.
In my perspective, I find myself aligned with Ortega’s stance on the swift labeling of views as “politically incorrect,” which she believes can often lack authenticity. This observation stems from recent events involving my co-star in “Scream 7,” Melissa Barrera, who was terminated due to remarks about Israel that were deemed antisemitic and hateful by Spyglass Media Group.
Imagine if everyone could say what they felt and not be judged for it.
On Wednesdays, the show’s dark humor carries a sharp edge of cynical violence, a hallmark of creator Tim Burton. Given his role as the main character, it’s not unexpected that Ortega voiced criticisms about the pressure for political correctness in Hollywood. However, when political correctness blends with cancel culture, performers such as Barrera can face consequences. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega stated:
In the line of work we’re engaged in, there seems to be an excessive emphasis on being politically correct. While this is important, I can’t help but feel that we are sacrificing a substantial amount of our authenticity and moral fiber because it often lacks sincerity. I long for more open dialogue where people could express their true feelings without fear of judgment, fostering discussions rather than arguments instead.
In November 2023, Barrera was terminated from his position following a series of controversial social media posts accusing Israel of acts like “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza. These posts also included sharing content suggesting that Israel was exploiting the Holocaust to bolster its arms industry. It’s important to note that the militant group Hamas, which is under scrutiny for terror activities, holds power over the administration of Gaza. In response to the October 7 terrorist attacks within Israel, which resulted in thousands of deaths and hundreds of hostage situations, Israel has carried out raids into Gaza targeting Hamas terrorists and seeking to rescue hostages.
Ortega has expressed her solidarity with Palestine, yet she’s been cautious with her words. On the other hand, Barrera’s persistent posts and accusations of genocide resulted in her termination from Spyglass. In a statement, they mentioned, “We firmly condemn antisemitism and any form of hate incitement, such as false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, misrepresentation of the Holocaust, or anything that clearly exceeds the boundaries into hate speech.”
Celebrities Push Back Against Political Correctness
As a movie buff with a keen eye for pop culture, I can’t help but notice that it’s not just Ortega who’s speaking out against political correctness. In April, Jerry Seinfeld stirred up quite a storm when he voiced his concern about the impact of the “extreme left and PC nonsense” on TV comedy – an unexpected stance for someone known to lean liberal. And he’s not alone in this sentiment; Steve Harvey has also expressed that political correctness is stifling comedy, a viewpoint echoed by other comedians in the industry.
As someone who has spent years studying and working in the field of media and entertainment, I find it disheartening to see how political correctness is being used as a tool to silence voices, particularly those that come from marginalized communities or hold unpopular opinions. The recent firing of Gina Carano, a talented actress who played a pivotal role in “The Mandalorian,” for mentioning the Holocaust in a tweet about politics, is a prime example of this troubling trend.
Ortega openly expressed that she finds it frustrating for celebrities to balance expressing their personal views while maintaining public image. Despite her rapid ascent to fame in recent times, she voiced her opinion to Vanity Fair that the current celebrity culture is, in her view, “completely absurd.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
opens in theaters on September 6, 2024.
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2024-08-10 19:31