By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | September 14, 2020 |
By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | September 14, 2020 |
There’s been roiling speculation that The Rock might run for president someday. Chiefly, it’s based on the pro-wrestler turned movie star’s undeniable charisma, which has made him an international celebrity. However, Dwayne Johnson’s personal politics are not something he speaks about publicly very often. That’s got Bob’s Burgers star Kristen Schaal frustrated.
Why? How did we get there? Well, it began on Twitter, with Trump misleading his followers again. The president posted a picture of a yard FULL of Trump campaign signs. It’s a picture from 2016, but he doesn’t present it as such.
This is a @propublica photo, taken in 2016, which Trump is tweeting this weekend for some reason. https://t.co/FyM5FM7nXO
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) September 13, 2020
Then, pro-wrestler turned MCU star Dave Bautista weighed in, commenting on Washington Post columnist Brian Klaus’s Quote-Retweet of the president’s deception.
Because he’s desperate. He’s lost and all he has left are his very loud,very aggressive,very ignorant base. He plays to his thousands of obnoxious #MAGAts but millions of rational Americans are disgusted and exhausted by him and his division preaching rhetoric. #AmericaNeedsBiden https://t.co/rj9pIIFllS
— Shadow Person Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) September 13, 2020
Next, one of Bautista’s followers begged for his help in getting the Democrats the win in Florida. In response, Bautista subtweeted “Florida residents with much larger platforms then myself.”
I wish I had an answer but it sure would help if other Florida residents with much larger platforms then myself would stop being so cowardly and take a stance. There’s too much at stake to be silent. Silence is a part of the problem, not a part of the solution. https://t.co/Y6Mo1l4TUV
— Shadow Person Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) September 13, 2020
Baustisa’s My Spy co-star Schaal then called out Johnson, who has a $3.4 million home in the state.
Are you talking about @TheRock? I am also finding that frustrating. I like him a lot, but he seems more interested in selling tequila right now. https://t.co/N8bN6ij0ip
— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) September 13, 2020
In replies, the comedic actress’s followers supported her, speculating that Johnson won’t risk his marketability by saying anything remotely controversial. Notably, this is the same criticism that was put before Taylor Swift before she became vocal in her support of voting Democrat during the midterm elections. Her call for fans to register to vote led to an immediate spike in voter registration in Tenessee.
However, Johnson hasn’t been silent about politics of late. In the recent video where he revealed his COVID-19 diagnosis, the A-lister also urged people to wear a mask, a move that’s become insidiously political in no small part because of the president’s refusal to wear one in public. He did not call out Trump directly in the video, though he alluded to politicians. He did criticize Trump on June 4, following the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police.
Where are you?#normalizeequality#blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/Xid3BC4B2n
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) June 4, 2020
In this video, Johnson does not directly say Trump’s name. However, he says, “Where is our compassionate leader who’s going to step up to our country who’s down on its knees, and extend a hand and say, ‘You stand up, stand up with me because I got you. I hear you, I’m listening to you. And you have my word that I’m going to do everything in my power, until my dying day, my last breath, to do everything I can to create the change that is needed, to normalize equality because black lives matter.’ Where are you?”
Here and on Instagram, Johnson said clearly: Black Lives Matter.
Still, could Johnson be doing more? He has 14.8 million followers on Twitter and 198 million followers on Instagram. Trump has 85.9 million on Twitter and 21.8 million on Instagram. Johnson’s every tweet won’t be covered by worldwide media, but his Instagram post about his coronavirus experience was. Imagine the reach he’d have if he said something directly political.
Simply put, Schaal’s got a point. Still, in her mentions, she was scoffed at by those who claim just because a person has a platform doesn’t mean they must use it (for the betterment of their fellow man). Alternately, some suggested Johnson could be planning to vote Trump and doesn’t have any interest in aiding Biden’s campaign.
As for Schaal, she’s using her platform as she sees fit, laying out her politics clearly:
Gang, here's the deal: No one should have any patience for arguments against equality, climate change, or gun regulations. We're done. Let's fix it. Leave the naysayers on the sidelines. Also healthcare is a human right. Wow, this country has a big to do list.
— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) September 13, 2020