George Takei, known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek series, voiced his disapproval on social media. Wil Wheaton, who starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation and films like Stand by Me, joined Takei in condemning Johnson’s position.
Wheaton specifically addressed Johnson's pivot from political discourse, labeling the former WWE Champion a “coward.”
The backlash stems from a recent interview Johnson gave to Esquire, where he stated his intention to keep his political opinions private. During the conversation, he explained his aversion to politics, noting:
“to keep my politics to myself”“politics is omnipresent and it’s forever. I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bullshit that comes with it.”
“When I hear you talk about Springsteen, who I love, and this idea that he’s speaking directly to Trump in his concerts, my first thought as you were telling me that, in my head, I went, ‘Oh, then why don’t they talk?’ They should sit down and talk. I don’t know where that goes, but I do know that’s an important step.”
Johnson's current position marks a significant shift from his actions in 2020, when he publicly endorsed Joe Biden for president. However, he later chose not to publicly support either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the 2024 election cycle. Months prior to the last election, Johnson expressed regret over his Biden endorsement in an interview with Fox News, explaining his revised philosophy:
“My goal is to bring this country together. I believe in that. There will be no endorsement. At this level of influence, I will keep my politics to myself. It is between me and the ballot box.”
“Silence is complicity.”
Wheaton then replied to Takei’s post, reinforcing his earlier sentiment:
“So disappointing to find out he is such a coward.”
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- George Takei
- The Next Generation
- Bruce Springsteen
- Donald Trump
- Kamala Harris
