Rob Schneider is a terrible actor who holds terrible political views. Speaking to the Epoch Times (again, terrible political views) about the problem of being a conservative in Hollywood, Schneider said this: “Mark Ruffalo could say whatever he wants against Trim[ and he’ll still get work as an actor. But if an actor like me . . . dares question the tribe of Democrats, that’s it. You’re out of Hollywood.”
We can read Schneider’s quotation in two ways:
1. “Ruffalo and I are on the same level as actors, but I have not gained the recognition or the roles because of my political views whereas he gets those roles because he has the ‘correct’ political views.”
2. “Ruffalo can express strong political views and get roles because of who he is as an actor, whereas an actor on my level cannot afford to express unpopular views because people do not need me and thus can avoid hiring me.”
People are ragging on Schneider, assuming # 1–Schneider is comparing himself to Ruffalo, one of the best and most-decorated actors of the era. But–perhaps in a fit of New Year’s generosity–I think # 2 may be the more plausible reason, if for no other reason than Schneider cannot be so delusional as to believe he is on Ruffalo’s level as an actor. Schneider conflated his point by using Ruffalo as his example rather than one of the reasonable number of conservative actors who continue to work. But let’s cut him a small break.