Award shows have never completely been rid of politics, but in recent controversy with President Trump and Hollywood’s palpable distaste for the republican President, it has almost overshadowed the actual awards. Many celebrities use the spotlight to preach unity, but others often use it to preach their opinions, often to an audience that does not agree. Social media networks, like Twitter, blow up with criticisms on the actors’ usually redundant comments.

The Oscars, the most esteemed award show, has experienced a steady decrease in viewers in the past four years. Most would point fingers at the extreme liberal propaganda of the actors. Middle class Americans go to movies to escape the hassle of their busy lives and spend two hours enjoying the entertainment or motivating story of a character. So, when they tune into award shows to see what the critics thought of their favorite or least favorite movies of the year, they do not want to hear the Hollywood actors, who own multiple houses and make multi-million dollars on each project, complain about society and the unfairness of it.

Hollywood actors are not paid or asked to make these comments, they are just simply driveling about things that they do not understand. Having your own political ideas is fine, most actually encourage it, but when Americans tune in to a show on a Sunday evening to watch their favorite movies be awarded, they should not have to sit through liberals and their complaints, that is what political shows are for.

This past Sunday, the Emmys award show hit an all-time low for ratings. When a show becomes surrounded by bashing on the nation’s president, with a couple of awards on the side, the question has to be asked: do the producers seriously not have any idea that Americans are sick of hearing about Hollywood hating President Trump? Even MTV’s Video Music Awards lost a significant number of viewers this year, despite a certain “Queen Bey” performing.

In an interview with Task and Purpose magazine, A-list celebrity Mark Wahlberg says “A lot of Hollywood is living in a bubble. They’re pretty out of touch with the common person, the everyday guy out there providing for their family.” As someone who has seen both the real world and the inside of the “Hollywood bubble,” his opinion is imperative for people to hear.

If Hollywood stars cannot fully relate to working-class Americans, why would anyone want to listen to them? James Lawson, ‘21, puts it this way “The political statements of celebrities makes me far less likely to watch these award shows, they are so out of touch with the average American that’s working paycheck to paycheck that their opinion is unequivocally worthless.”

I myself was a devout award show viewer; my mother and I eagerly awaited award show season every year, but this past year and this coming year of award shows have lost almost all their charm as they transform into an opportunity for celebrities to politically condescend.