Actor Matthew McConaughey criticized Hollywood's "illiberal left" on a recent episode of Russell Brand's podcast, attracting the ire of Twitter liberals everywhere.
Asked by Brand if he noticed a "condemnation and criticism of ordinary working people" in Hollywood, McConaughey criticized his liberal colleagues.
"There are a lot [of people] on that illiberal left that absolutely condescend, patronize, and are arrogant towards the other 50 percent."
Turns out this whole time Matthew McConaughey was saying alt-right alt-right alt-right— Cola CHICAGO ill. (@Cola CHICAGO ill.) 1607349456.0
I don't know why y'all were loving on Matthew McConaughey when Woody Harrelson has been the stoner hero this whole… https://t.co/lvf8juTJQp— Ally Ally Oxenfree add GHOST GIRL on goodreads (@Ally Ally Oxenfree add GHOST GIRL on goodreads) 1607348128.0
Matthew McConaughey out here acting like the privileged white man he was raised to be??? https://t.co/6rF3DdB0Jm— CPS (@CPS) 1607348325.0
McConaughey went on to defend those who have been denying Joe Biden's victory in November.
"I'm sure you saw it in our industry when Trump was voted in four years ago, they were in denial that was real. Some of them were in absolute denial."
"[Now] it looks like Biden's our guy. Now you've got the right that's in denial, 'cause their side has fake news. And I understand, they've been fed fake news. No one knows what the hell to believe, right? So they're putting down their last bastion of defense."
Sorry Matthew McConaughey, racism is not something that can be fixed by taking your shirt off.— Sari Gagnon (@Sari Gagnon) 1607347901.0
Being "aggressively centrist" as Matthew McConaughey claims to be is to be aggressively privileged. It is to pick n… https://t.co/4xFMabM1u4— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker (@Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker) 1607358171.0
I enjoy Matthew McConaughey as a performer but his politics reek of the sort of white male privilege that guarantee… https://t.co/3mWRCVepsa— Cyrus McQueen (@Cyrus McQueen) 1607352173.0
McConaughey said that people should try to find common ground by daring each other to be as centrist as possible.
"I almost feel like it's a move to say, 'Let's get aggressively centric. I dare you."
Matthew McConaughey is correct that liberals can be condescending towards the people who elected Trump. Also, Gali… https://t.co/TKDWPK9S1s— JRehling (@JRehling) 1607359797.0
Looks like the Right has finally found a real Hollywood "Hero" in Matthew McConaughey. Think that fact that he's co… https://t.co/F6OTjQ48ad— Mark Munkittrick (@Mark Munkittrick) 1607326837.0
"There are a lot (of people) on that illiberal left that absolutely condescend, patronize, and are arrogant towards… https://t.co/NRfX2lGPRK— ⚖️Powerful Mel Ankoly 🦈 #ForThePeople (@⚖️Powerful Mel Ankoly 🦈 #ForThePeople) 1607318765.0
Twitter was furious with McConaughey for seeming to equate liberals who were unhappy with Trump's election and conservatives who have rapidly spread conspiracy theories that the election was stolen.
Matthew McConaughey normalizes bigotry, hatred, science denial, selfishness with long blonde hair and a whiskey nea… https://t.co/3WQTLSdKbA— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞) 1607353219.0
Matthew McConaughey making a false equivalency between the left wing’s acceptance, yet unhappiness with the electio… https://t.co/rxJoylodKd— Shari Lynn (@Shari Lynn) 1607349431.0
This isn't the first time McConaughey, a Texas native, has angered the "far-left" on Twitter with calls towards centrism.
Matthew McConaughey says "we must be constructive" with @POTUS. https://t.co/FvEPUegY2u— Twitter Moments (@Twitter Moments) 1486060688.0
@usatodaylife It's only called the 'far left' now because Republicans have moved so far right. Center is now called… https://t.co/5v1zDv71hF— Jon O'Brien (@Jon O'Brien) 1607356214.0
People online continued to point out that compromising with bad faith arguments ends up hurting everyone involved and makes a healthy democracy even more difficult down the line.
@usatodaylife When one side is dedicated to denying facts (i.e. Biden won the election; COVID-19 precautions; Kyle… https://t.co/YhsWFJskg8— Chris Alexander 💛 (@Chris Alexander 💛) 1607355962.0
@usatodaylife MM seems to most blame the Left. He ignores that Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Carlson, etc are entertaine… https://t.co/XloYF7zzTz— jeffspeed (@jeffspeed) 1607356113.0
Ultimately, McConaughey is likely just looking for a way to find peace between America's conflicted parties.
If these tweets are any sort of indicator, however, he hasn't found it yet.