“Saturday Night Live” alum Rob Schneider has spent years saying what you’re not supposed to say in Tinsel Town.
Consider: Free speech matters. The Democratic Party has gone off the rails. The COVID vaccines aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
He even chatted with conservative firebrand Glenn Beck and headlined a Fox Nation comedy special, “Woke Up in America.” That’s a lot of liberal Hollywood no-nos for one artist.
To make matters worse, Schneider embraced the Democratic candidate threatening to make President Joe Biden a one-term leader, old-school liberal Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The far-Left Rolling Stone, which no longer cherishes free speech as it did during its formative years, slammed the comic’s Red Pill transformation earlier this year.
Still, Hollywood does allow some high-profile conservative actors to stay gainfully employed. And you can count their numbers on one hand. Chris Pratt. Jon Voight. Kelsey Grammer. Clint Eastwood. Tim Allen.
Surely, industry gatekeepers can fondly recall “The Hot Chick,” the “Grown Ups” franchise and, of course, “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” and keep Schneider in their plans.
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What Schneider shared on X might have hurt any chances of continuing goodwill within the walls of Hollywood.
The 59-year-old weighed in on TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney, the trans female whose brief Bud Light sponsorship caused the brand to suffer a major sales collapse. One Tweet could sever his decades-long ties with La La Land.
“If you believe there is such a thing as ‘cultural appropriation.’ Then certainly this gentleman is guilty of ‘gender appropriation.’” Schneider said, referring to Mulvaney, on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
If you believe there is such a thing as ‘cultural appropriation.’
Then certainly this gentleman is guilty of ‘gender appropriation.’ pic.twitter.com/I4FmVfCGvt— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) September 2, 2023
By the Left’s standards, the comic actor “misgendered” Mulvaney and accused the TikTok star of pretending to be a woman.
Right-leaning influencers have made similar arguments about Mulvaney, but they neither tour the country as a stand-up or regularly appear in comedy features.
Naturally, the tweet earned both praise and condemnation on social media, meaning plenty of people will have heard about it before the Outrage Machine moves on to a fresh topic.
The trans debate remains the third rail of Western culture. Say the wrong thing in the cultural discussion on the topic and future gigs could dry up. Just ask Roisin Murphy, the Irish singer who criticized puberty blockers before swiftly apologized for sharing the “wrong” opinion on the topic.
Murphy lost several gigs and her label refuses to promote her new album.
Rocker Dee Snider suggested parents shouldn’t automatically transition their children if they share gender-fluid behavior, and a Pride event in San Francisco kicked the Twisted Sister alum off its planned event. Rock legend Carlos Santana similarly defied the trans community’s bullet points and quickly apologized. The most obvious example, of course, remains author J.K. Rowling. She went from cultural darling to a pariah in some circles for deviating from a small part of the trans movement’s agenda.
Why would Schneider risk his professional hide for a hot take like this?
Schneider has said in the recent past that he has no choice but to speak his truth about the current state of affairs. He’s not dumb, though. He understands the ramifications for saying the “wrong” thing in an industry renowned for its progressive groupthink.
And he’s willing to roll the dice on his career.
That may explain his Fox Nation ties and recent attempts to work outside the Hollywood ecosystem. Last year, Schneider independently directed and starred in “Daddy Daughter Trip,” a kid-friendly romp starring his real-life daughter.
Schneider plays a financially strapped Dad who uses his imagination to give his child the vacation of her dreams.
The film got very little attention in theaters (boxofficemojo.com doesn’t have any listing under Domestic Box Office) and isn’t available on any streaming platform or VOD service. Could this be connected to the star’s Right-leaning transformation? Or, it’s another sign of how challenging it can be to truly be an independent artist in this cultural space.
The comic actor has other films lined up for release, including “Pledge Trip” and “Dead Wrong,” but neither appear like the comedy blockbusters he once regularly churned out. He also will provide a voice for the upcoming Daily Wire pre-school series, “Chip Chilla,” part of the company’s aggressive foray into children’s entertainment.
And yet, Schneider still has close ties to mainstream Hollywood. Adam Sandler.
The fellow “SNL” alum has tapped Schneider’s grab-bag of comic tricks for more than a dozen films over the years, including recent comedies like “The Wrong Missy,” “Sandy Wexler” and “Hubie Halloween.”
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
The parts range in size, but by keeping his professional bond with Sandler, Schneider’s odds of finding steady work and major exposure seem good. The feeling appears to be mutual.
Plus, Sandler remains one of the most powerful artists in Hollywood. He recently signed a four-movie deal worth $250 million. He regularly appears in comedy films for Netflix as well, including the recent “Murder Mystery 2” while simultaneously earning raves for dramatic work in films like 2019’s “Uncut Gems.”
Schneider may be transitioning to a new chapter in his storied career, one that exists outside the Hollywood gatekeepers but allows him to do, or say, whatever he pleases.
Having a few powerful friends support him along the way can only help.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at @HollywoodInToto.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.