Tatiana Maslany Calls Out Tom Selleck, Michael Jordan for Political Silence

Actress Tatiana Maslany has criticized prominent figures like Tom Selleck and Michael Jordan for what she terms "cowardly" behavior in avoiding political discussions. Maslany, appearing on Mehdi Hasan's podcast "We're Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends," argued that celebrities who remain silent on political issues are often motivated by a fear of losing professional opportunities and financial security.

Maslany, who has been vocal in her support for the "Free Palestine" movement and has accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza, stated that she believes artists have a responsibility to engage with and comment on sociopolitical issues. "To me, artists are like mirrors to the world, to society," Maslany said. "We have to name things, whether it's emotional mirroring to people the human experience or it's speaking out or it's naming something. It's like such an important, intrinsic part of our job."

When Hasan referenced actor Tom Selleck's past refusal to discuss politics and Michael Jordan's well-known "Republicans buy sneakers too" statement, Maslany asserted that all forms of entertainment carry political weight. "But all of it is political. Everything is political," she stated. "All entertainment is political because it has a viewpoint and it has a perspective. It has visual representation of the world we live in or the kinds of things that are funny or acceptable or the ways that people relate to each other. It's all about inter-person, like there's no disconnect in my mind and to me, those are two very rich men who stand to lose a lot if they stand up for something."

Hasan agreed, suggesting that celebrities are more concerned about "fewer opportunities to make money" by engaging in political discourse. Maslany characterized this mindset as "bizarre" and "cowardly."

"Art should destabilize people, too," Maslany added. "But like, art moves people, whether that's in like a shock way, a laughter way, all of it. It's a communication with the world ... It's such a bizarre mentality. It's so cowardly."

Eric Scheiner, senior director of video at the Media Research Center, commented on Maslany's remarks, attributing her viewpoint to a "typical leftist viewpoint that permeates Hollywood" and a desire to "bully people into spouting forth a political opinion even when they choose not to." Scheiner suggested that figures like Dolly Parton, who "quietly supported causes she believed in through private, personal actions" and focused on entertaining rather than alienating audiences, offered a different model.

Maslany has been an active voice on various political issues, including condemning the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year for its perceived silence on the conflict in Gaza. Representatives for Jordan and Selleck did not immediately respond to requests for comment.