The View Hosts Debate Thornton's Celebrity Politics View

On a recent episode of ABC's The View, hosts debated actor Billy Bob Thornton's recent comments discouraging celebrities from using their platforms to push political views, sparking a lively discussion on the responsibilities of public figures.

Thornton, star of the Paramount+ series Landman, made the remarks last week during an appearance on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast. Paraphrasing comedian Ricky Gervais's famous Golden Globes monologue, he said, "Get your little award and f off." He added, "I dont know anything about politics. I have no idea. And the stuff that I believe about it, I dont want to force it down somebody elses throat cause Im not an expert on that." Thornton argued that fans should not place undue trust in actors' opinions, noting, "Just because you played a doctor doesnt mean you are a doctor, just because you played a hero doesnt make you a hero."

The conversation on The View highlighted divisions among the cohosts. Joy Behar criticized Thornton, saying, "Imagine bragging about how uninformed you are. Youre an American citizen. Dont you watch the news? Dont you read the paper? Come on." She urged celebrities to "use your platform," citing Bruce...