Gabriel Basso, the actor who portrayed JD Vance in the Oscar-nominated film "Hillbilly Elegy", has stirred controversy by urging his fellow actors to "shut the fuck up" regarding their political opinions. This statement was made on a recent episode of the Great Company podcast, where he expressed that actors do not possess the authority to publicly convey political views, contrasting with his director, Ron Howard, who had previously expressed concern over the political implications of Vance's campaign.

While discussing the roles and responsibilities of actors during the podcast, Basso argued that the nature of their work does not entitle them to influence public political opinions. He stated, “We’re saying words that we’re told to say. We’re told how to say them. We’re told where to stand. And then we’re telling people how to vote?” emphasizing his belief that actors should focus on entertaining rather than engaging in political discourse.

Basso further elaborated on his stance by describing actors as "court jesters" whose primary role is to entertain. "We’re public servants. We’re there to perform, to entertain, and then all of sudden, the jester, because he’s in the courtroom starts to be like: ‘I might want to go sit on the throne!’” he explained, indicating his concern over actors overstepping their professional boundaries.

His comments also touched upon his personal connection with JD Vance, whose bestselling memoir inspired the film. Basso acknowledged the intertwined fates of their careers, noting, “When he’s thinking about his life – they made a movie of his book, and my name will always be in the description.”

JD Vance, who became a US senator for Ohio and served as Donald Trump’s running mate, has faced criticism for some of his controversial statements and actions. Despite this, Basso described Vance as "a cool dude" and shared that they connected over their Midwest roots.

Basso's remarks come amidst a politically charged atmosphere in Hollywood, with numerous actors publicly endorsing political candidates. While some, like Russell Brand and Jim Caviezel, supported Trump, others, including Robert DeNiro and Julia Roberts, backed Kamala Harris’s campaign. Basso's views reflect a minority perspective within the industry, advocating for a more apolitical stance among entertainers.