Variety Editor Laughably Claims Hollywood 'Likes to Avoid Politics'

On Monday's Today, while discussing celebrities at Sunday's Golden Globes expressing solidarity with the French following a series of terrorist attacks, Variety magazine senior editor Ramin Setoodeh made an odd assertion: "It was a very political night and Hollywood usually likes to avoid politics, but last night they went all in and they were very political."

"Hollywood usually likes to avoid politics" – since when? Quite the contrary, left-wing stars have routinely used Hollywood award shows to spout off on any number of political issues. In fact, Girls actress Lena Dunham used the red carpet at the Globes to slam "deranged Neocons" [1] who criticize her on the internet.

At the 2012 Oscars, host Billy Crystal blasted Republican presidential candidates [2] as "A dark knight, an American psycho, a charismatic crack addict."

After receiving an award for his work on the film Inception at the 2011 Oscars, cinematographer Wally Phister condemned the "madness" [3] of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker taking on public sector unions. Phister proceeded to praise unions for having "given me health care in a country that otherwise does not provide health care."

At the 2007 Emmy's, actress Sally Field infamously ranted [4] on stage: "Let's face it, if the mothers ruled the world, there would be no Goddamn wars in the first place!"

In 2006, ABC's Good Morning America actually worried that the Oscars were getting too political [5], with then-host Charlie Gibson noting:

When you look at the pictures nominated for the best film of the year, there's not much question where Hollywood stands. The five nominated films for best picture, an ensemble piece on the insidious effects of racism: 'Crash'. A love story between two cowboys, 'Brokeback Mountain'. 'Good Night and Good luck' [about the McCarthy era]. The politics of terrorism in 'Munich' and a character study of a famous gay writer, 'Capote'. All five dealing in various degrees with divisive issues, political issues, and all five can be considered as having distinctly left-of-center perspectives....It is not uncommon for one or two nominated films to have a political point of view. But all five?

On Monday, Setoodeh also commented on the level of emotion at the Globes ceremony: "I think given everything that's been happening in the world, Hollywood's been through a very rough time with the Sony hack and North Korea, I think it's kind of justified. And I think people were expressing the emotions that they were feeling."

Here is a transcript of the January 12 exchange on Today:

9:17 AM ET

(...)

AL ROKER: Let's talk about the show itself. Bit of a different tone this year. Not as light as it's been.

RAMIN SETOODEH [SENIOR EDITOR, VARIETY]: Very different. The Oscars are serious usually and the Golden Globes are really fun. And this year, I think, given everything's that's been happening in the world, the Golden Globes were very serious. You could see that in the speeches, from the opening monologue with Amy and Tina talking about the Sony hack, to everyone talking about the terrorist attacks in Paris, to George Clooney's speech, Jared Leto talking about Paris, speaking in French. So it was a very political night and Hollywood usually likes to avoid politics, but last night they went all in and they were very political.

ROKER: In fact, on the red carpet there were expressions of support.

KAHLANA BARFIELD [INSTYLE MAGAZINE]: So many expressions, signs, statements, and I just thought, you know, during this time, it was very needed. It was so great to see people do that.

ROKER: And there was also a lot of emotion, it seemed, last night. I mean, Michael Keaton calling his son his best friend. George Clooney's just amazing acknowledgment of his wife, Amal. Were you surprised at the amount of emotion that was being expressed?

SETOODEH: I think a little bit. You could see Amal crying, you could see Michael Keaton tearing up. There were a lot more tears, I think, than usual. But I think given everything that's been happening in the world, Hollywood's been through a very rough time with the Sony hack and North Korea, I think it's kind of justified. And I think people were expressing the emotions that they were feeling.

(...)