Editor’s Note: Whether on screen or off, Hollywood can always be counted on to keep us entertained. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Join us each week as we shine the spotlight on Tinseltown’s A-listers and their whacky and sometimes inspiring takes on today’s current events.
As we say goodbye to 2021 and cautiously step into 2022, we’ve got a lot to remember from the tenants of Tinseltown, fondly or otherwise. What have been some of Hollywood’s A-Listers’ accomplishments this year and what is in store for us over the next 12 months? Two things we know for certain: It hasn’t been boring, and we can bet the celebs will continue to keep us entertained. Here are some highlights, good and bad, from the second pandemic year.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for National Geographic)
Mr. Liberal definitely wins for having the most eventful 2021, not just for the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, but for the drama that unfolded afterward as well. Hollywood had a meltdown and insisted on banning guns from television and movie sets while Baldwin, a supporter of defunding the police, called for cops to be present on sets.
A distraught Baldwin told George Stephanopoulos during an interview that he never pulled the trigger on the prop gun that killed Hutchins, and then right after the show aired, he deleted his Twitter account. Meanwhile, lawsuits have been filed, naming the actor as a defendant, and a search warrant was issued for his phone.
Colin Kaepernick
This former NFL player has had his share of the spotlight, making a name for himself by starting the take a knee movement, and he continues to draw attention to his liberal otherworldly views. The latest shenanigan was featured in Netflix’s eight-part series, Colin in Black & White. Apparently being bi-racial and adopted by white parents was traumatizing but nothing compared to his experience in the National Football League where players are treated as slaves, according to Kaepernick. In one episode, he described being a football player, despite earning as much as tens of millions a year, as basically being paraded around and inspected by the white masters, otherwise known as coaches.
Janet Jackson
While on the subject of racism, how about Hulu’s special, The New York Times Presents Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson. During the half-time 2004 Super Bowl show, Jackson experienced a dress malfunction that is now considered racist. The description of the episode explained: “In 2004, a culture war was brewing when the Super Bowl halftime show audience saw a white man expose a Black woman’s breast for 9/16ths of a second.” An impromptu change in choreography and costume wasn’t given nearly enough blame, and it makes one wonder if race would have become the central issue had Jackson’s partner had been someone with darker skin than Justin Timberlake.
The Royal Cluster
Prince Harry and Meghan (Photo by NDZ/Star Max/GC Images)
Prince Harry and Megan Markle have given us plenty to ooh and ahh over this year. From their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey to taking Native American holy water to beautify their gardens, this not-so-royal couple has entertained America while insulting those across the pond. The couple has accused the royal family of being racist and even denied their son, Archie, the title of Dumbarton because “dumb” is in the name and they fear he will be bullied.
Disney
Disney has taken a fast ride on the woke train this year, changing pretty much everything in its desire to cater to the liberals and those offended by everything. Last year, cartoon classics such as Aristocats, Dumbo, and Peter Pan were among a group of movies that were deemed harmful to minorities and now carry warning labels. This year, at the Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, FL, the Happily Ever After pre-show will no longer begin with “Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls.” Instead, the new greeting will be “Good evening, dreamers of all ages.”
Honorable Mentions
There are just too many Hollywood antics to mention in one article, so here are some honorable mentions of 2021.
Dave Chappelle
After criticizing the transgender community for attacking J.K. Rawling on his comedy show The Closer, Dave Chappelle found himself the next target of cancel culture. Even though trans employees and the LGBQT community called for his resignation and the cancelation of his show, however, Netflix backed Chappelle and refused to bow to the disgruntled workers and viewers.
Playboy
Playboy, now a digital magazine, has taken its wokeness to a new level by introducing Bretman Rock as the first gay man to be on the cover. He is shown wearing black tights and a leotard, high-heeled boots, and the ever-famous bunny ears.
Karen Dolls
On his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host introduced a spoof line of Karen Barbie dolls that pokes fun at Karens everywhere. There are several in the series, including the Dog Walker, which depicts Amy Cooper, who called the police on a birdwatching black man in Central Park, and Amanda Chase the pro-gun Republican Virginia state senator whose office was encased in plexiglass because she refused to wear a mask.
Hilaria Baldwin
Remember her claim to Spanish origins? Hillary Hayward-Thomas has tried for years to pass herself off as a Spaniard, but this year, she was called to the carpet since it was revealed she had lived in a 100-year-old, $4 million home in Boston since the age of three.
Death to 2021
Did you watch Netflix’s Death to 2020 last year? Well, the newest version is out with some of the same quirky characters if you’re so inclined to watch.
Tune in next week to see what else Tinseltown has planned.
~ Read more from Kelli Ballard.
