Billy Bob Thornton is in his seventies. He's at that age where many speak their mind and pay no attention to the ramifications of what they said. In some ways, that must be liberating, especially when talking about something that really grinds your gears.
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During a recent appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Thornton aired his frustrations with the rise in actors giving politically motivated speeches.
"It's like Ricky Gervais said, 'Look, come up here, accept your little award, and f--- off,'" Thornton said. "First of all, unless you've really studied stuff and know about a subject fully, who the hell would want to listen to a musician or an actor talk about politics? It's like, 'Are we supposed to follow this? If we are, what if they lead you down the wrong road?'"
Political discourse has become ubiquitous in our daily lives. You can't log in to social media, watch TV, or drive down the freeway without seeing some form of political messaging. So, Thornton is clearly frustrated that the same messaging has now bled into the entertainment industry.
Billy Bob Thornton Dislikes the Divisiveness of Modern Politics
That same rise in political messaging has led to a serious division throughout the country. There are similar issues elsewhere in the world, too. When speaking with Rogan, Thornton discussed his disdain for the divide that politics has placed within society.
"And politically, I call myself a radical moderate," Thornton said. "I'm very strong in my opinions. But, my opinions don't belong to any political party. I just look at what makes sense. And I think we need a common sense party in this country. That's actually what we need."
Billy Bob Thornton Says Landman Doesn't Have a Political Agenda
Interestingly, Thornton's comments come at a time when he's working on a show that has been accused of pushing a political agenda. The show is based on a "Landman" for an oil company and the difficulties that come with the West Texas oil industry.
