Two weeks have passed since the U.S. presidential election, yet many Americans seem still unable to fully digest Donald Trump's return to the White House, and the Hollywood elite—who have leaned heavily Democratic in recent years—clearly cannot accept this outcome either.
Last week, Rachel Zegler, who plays the lead role in Disney's live-action adaptation of "Snow White" set to release next March, took to her social media to declare: "This country is terminally ill... This will become yet another four years filled with hate... To all the Trump supporters, his voters, and Trump himself, I just want to say, I hope you never know the taste of peace."
The responses to her post were mixed; while some supported her, many others criticized Zegler for her inability to accept differing opinions, with numerous Trump supporters vowing to boycott the $200 million Disney remake of "Snow White."
Faced with the backlash, just days later, the 23-year-old actress posted again, apologizing for her extreme comments. "Hello everyone, I sincerely apologize for my post on Instagram last week. I got carried away. Hate and anger will only distance us further from peace and tolerance. I'm sorry for having contributed to such negative rhetoric."
Still from the new "Snow White"
In fact, the casting decision to have Rachel Zegler—of Latin descent—take on the lead role in this "Snow White" has already made her a target for criticism among many American netizens. Additionally, she expressed last year in an interview that the story of the original "Snow White" is outdated, asserting that Disney needed to produce a new, politically correct version for a new generation. For this new iteration, she believes that pursuing love is no longer the main goal of Snow White; instead, "her dream is to be a leader, and as long as she is brave, fair, and sincere, she can indeed become a pioneering figure." This perceived undermining of the original spirit offended many fans who preferred the classic version of "Snow White."
There are indeed many Hollywood stars, like Rachel Zegler, who are anti-Trump. By contrast, those in Hollywood who support him are far fewer in number and often hesitant to publicly express their views for various reasons. However, Trump's recent successful return to power may change this dynamic.
On November 14, actress Justine Bateman, known for her roles in "Desperate Housewives" and "Californication," expressed her excitement during an interview with Fox News, stating that Trump's victory means "the era of political correctness is over." According to her, the momentum of partisan division fueled by mob mentality can no longer be sustained, and with Trump reclaiming the presidency, that momentum has been interrupted, signaling the end of the woke era.
At 58, Justine Bateman may not have the acting pedigree of her brother Jason Bateman, but she has gained significant recognition in Hollywood in recent years due to her outspoken anti-AI stance. Previously, she had not been involved in political matters and had never openly endorsed Trump. However, during this interview, it was clear she had become an admirer of the new president. In her view, Trump’s re-election will not only alter the political climate in the U.S. but also usher in a significant shift in the nation's overall spirit. "I believe this spiritual shift began when Elon Musk acquired Twitter and transformed it into X; the real change came after Donald Trump won the presidential election. Yes, I can feel that change."
Stallone speaks at a Trump-hosted event at Mar-a-Lago
Also on November 14, action star Sylvester Stallone attended a Trump-hosted event at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where he publicly endorsed Trump, even comparing him to the founding fathers who led America to independence, praising Trump as "George Washington reincarnated."
The iconic figure, known for his roles in classics like "Rocky" and "Rambo," passionately expressed at the podium: "I love mythic stories, and Trump is a true mythological figure, because there’s no one else like him on this planet. What he has done is something that no one else can accomplish, so I have great admiration for him."
Perhaps wanting to make his "admiration" even more vivid, the 78-year-old Stallone further added, "When George Washington was leading everyone to defend this country, he had no idea he was about to change the whole world. Without him, you can imagine what the world would look like today. But guess what? Now we have another George Washington." After Stallone concluded his remarks, Trump took the stage to the melody of "God Bless the USA," greeting Stallone with a hearty handshake.
An old photo of Stallone and Trump resurfaced
Stallone's remarks were quickly recorded and shared on social media by event attendees, sparking strong backlash from American netizens. Regardless of whether they agreed or disagreed, the first reaction from almost everyone was one of surprise. This is because, whether during Trump's initial candidacy in 2016, his defeat to Biden in 2020, or this year's election, Stallone had never publicly revealed his electoral stance and even abstained from voting in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. He rarely participates in political activities, but he has reportedly donated to Biden's campaign and has openly called for stronger gun control measures during interviews, aligning his policy views with the Democratic Party.
However, looking back, Stallone, born into a Catholic family, also admitted that he had set aside his faith to focus on acting. Yet, after his eldest daughter fell seriously ill in 1996, he returned to being a devout believer. Some netizens have speculated that his open praise for Trump might be closely tied to his strong faith and the public sentiment of Trump being a so-called "chosen one" following his assassination attempt.
Furthermore, some U.S. media outlets suggest that Stallone may be nominated by Trump to serve as the next chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent organization under the U.S. federal government aimed at providing funding and policy support for various American arts initiatives. The current chairman, Maria Rosario Jackson, was appointed by Biden and her term is set to conclude at the end of next year.
