Hollywood’s Political Bias and the Role of Hollywood Ambassadors

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/05/28

Tre Lovell, a top entertainment attorney, talked about Hollywood’s political landscape, the role of Hollywood Ambassadors, and legal reforms. Lovell discusses Hollywood’s subjectivity, where political bias can impact careers. He advocates legal protections against political discrimination and explores cultural shifts affecting conservative actors. Chris Pratt exemplifies how religious expression remains more accepted than political views. Lovell advises actors to be mindful of branding, as political statements can alienate audiences. He also examines the legal consequences of scandals in Hollywood and suggests strategies to foster bipartisanship and fairness in the industry.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we’re here with Tre Lovell, a Beverly Hills-based entertainment, corporate, and intellectual property attorney and partner at The Lovell Firm. He has over 25 years of legal experience and is recognized as among the top 1% of litigators in the U.S. Lovell represents individuals and corporations in business law, entertainment law, employment law, and high-stakes litigation. A sought-after legal commentator, he has provided insights on cases involving Alec Baldwin, Hall & Oates, and Prince Harry on CBS News, Court TV, Fox News, and Entertainment Tonight. Thank you very much for joining me today. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule. So, what is a Hollywood Ambassador’s official role and potential influence? Just for clarification for those reading this.

Tre Lovell: Yes. I don’t know. I haven’t seen much regarding what they’re doing or their obligations. I understand that he wants to give a greater voice to Hollywood, probably support the business and the industry, and encourage more nonpartisanship. That’s my understanding, but I haven’t seen much beyond that.

Jacobsen: Do you think this might add nonpartisanship and bipartisanship by introducing more conservative figures into what is typically framed as a liberal bastion? Could this allow conservatives in Hollywood to express their views more openly without facing the backlash that has typically occurred?

Lovell: Hollywood is a highly subjective hiring, casting, and decision-making industry. Political views can seep in and influence decisions without being explicitly acknowledged.

Jacobsen: Do you feel this is particularly acute for individuals who openly profess a Christian faith in Hollywood, alongside holding conservative political and social perspectives?

Lovell: Hollywood is an industry built on subjectivity. Political views and personal biases can remain hidden yet still impact hiring decisions. Hollywood operates differently from other industries, where qualifications and experience are more objective measures.

Jacobsen: Given the industry’s subjective nature—where hiring, acting opportunities, and project selection involve countless decisions each season—would you say Hollywood is inherently mercurial because it is shaped by shifting relationships and personal preferences?

Lovell: Yes, it’s an industry built on subjectivity. Because of that, political views, personal preferences, and biases can remain hidden but still have significant influence. Compared to other industries, these factors can more pronounced affect opportunities and careers.

Jacobsen: Do you think this initiative will be more than symbolic? Could it impact casting decisions, marketing strategies, and deal-making in Hollywood?

Lovell: Hollywood is becoming more open to conservatives, and this ambassador likely wants to help the industry. He can support Hollywood through tax credits, financial subsidies, and government incentives. There are many ways the government can assist the entertainment industry.

This initiative presents an opportunity to reduce partisan divisions and encourage greater support from Republican leadership. The goal is to create a more balanced, less one-sided approach to industry support, which could temper the intense partisanship currently present in Hollywood.

Jacobsen: Could there be other measures beyond these ambassadorial positions to put pressure on the industry, particularly through legal and contractual implications for professionals? With your legal expertise, are there additional steps—perhaps beyond the symbolic aspect of these appointments—that could be more substantive? What about measures that may not receive as much media attention but could lead to real legal and contractual changes to address the one-sidedness you’re referencing?

Lovell: Legal reform is very necessary. One of the most pervasive forms of discrimination today is political discrimination. It has reached a level where people refuse to work with others with differing political views.

Political discrimination has become a significant issue. People won’t hire them, and they won’t use their goods and services—political discrimination has become a significant issue. Legal reform is needed to ensure that political discrimination is protected against, just as racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination is. It should be categorized under existing anti-discrimination protections.

California does have laws that prohibit hiring and firing based on political beliefs. However, we need broader legal reforms so that it is explicitly unlawful to discriminate against someone based on their political beliefs or how they exercise their right to vote.

Additionally, Hollywood should implement measures to ensure these protections are enforced. That is the next step in addressing this political bias.

Jacobsen: But what about cultural changes? Let’s say more ambassadors are put in place, and some legal and contractual measures are introduced to encourage bipartisanship—if not outright nonpartisanship—when it comes to creative production in Hollywood.

From a cultural standpoint, what reforms could industry professionals implement regarding outreach, casting, and hiring practices? Would any of these changes happen naturally if internal pressure is applied?

Or will everything ultimately depend on legal and contractual changes, alongside the ambassadorial efforts of conservative industry leaders?

Lovell: First, I don’t believe employers currently do this, but political beliefs should not be a factor in hiring decisions. Employers should not be allowed to ask candidates about their political beliefs—such information would only be known if the individual chooses to disclose it.

Jacobsen: If we focus specifically on actors, they sometimes face issues when expressing their political beliefs. While they are fully allowed to do so, they risk alienating a portion of the audience, correct?

Lovell: Actors sometimes need to be cautious about their brand, their name, and their overall likability with audiences. I’m not saying they shouldn’t express their opinions, but given that an actor’s career is often tied to their public perception, political statements can have a direct impact on their likability.

Other than that, it seems like a challenging situation. As you mentioned, legal reform and addressing systemic imbalances might help, but is there much else that can be done.

Jacobsen: There is significant room for improvement, as we’ve discussed. But what about areas where Hollywood, despite its reputation for partisanship, does a good job of fostering nonpartisan or even bipartisan creative endeavours?

Lovell: That should be the goal—to take partisanship out of the equation.

The aim should be to make the industry nonpartisan or at least more bipartisan. However, the key issue that needs to be corrected is bias in hiring, where individuals may be excluded due to their political beliefs. That is the core problem that needs to be addressed.

It can be resolved in a few ways: individuals could choose not to voice their political opinions, or the industry could foster a more open environment where expressing political views does not lead to negative repercussions.

Jacobsen: How do we accomplish that?

Lovell: We address it through legal reform.

We also implement procedures and policies that protect against political discrimination. If Trump contacts Hollywood ambassadors and his administration makes efforts to support the industry, that could also have a significant impact.

That type of engagement could create an organic shift as industry professionals begin to see outreach from conservative leadership, demonstrating a willingness to help.

Jacobsen: That would also create bipartisanship and lessen the negative impact on conservative expression.

Efforts to support the industry can happen organically through policy changes, but they can also be reinforced legally more objectively. For example, making it clear that political discrimination is against the law—if you refuse to hire someone due to their political beliefs, you could face legal consequences.

What is your recommendation for industry actors, actresses, and other creatives to protect themselves in an increasingly politically hostile environment?

Lovell: Are you referring to legal protection or maintaining a public record of their stance?

Jacobsen: Yes, from a legal perspective.

Lovell: You don’t want to suppress someone’s beliefs entirely, but there is a time and place for everything. The Academy Awards are not necessarily the right venue for delivering a political speech.

If you choose to voice your views publicly, you will receive attention, but you will also risk alienating part of the audience. That’s the challenge with political beliefs—you will always have a segment of the population that disagrees with you.

Jacobsen: What should the public understand about actors at different levels—tier one, tier two, and so on—regarding the idea of a personal brand?

It’s probably similar to how people watch a comedian and assume that it fully reflects their real personality. What should people know about distinguishing between an actor’s brand and themselves?

Lovell: An actor’s success relies on popularity and likability to get work, secure endorsements, and remain marketable.

Their brand becomes their identity in the public eye, allowing them to land commercial deals and sponsorships. Everyone needs to understand that their image and brand drive their career opportunities.

If an actor gets arrested, engages in illegal activities, or harms others, it damages their brand, creates personal animus, and can significantly impact their career.

Similarly, when actors delve into politics, they inevitably take a stance that some people will disagree with. That can affect their movie attendance, TV ratings, concert sales, and overall career prospects.

Managers, agents, and attorneys typically advise their clients—whether they are actors, musicians, or other public figures—not to express political views. Because they will inevitably alienate a percentage of their audience. That is the best course of action to protect their career.

Jacobsen: So, is no agent or manager encouraging their clients to speak publicly about politics?

Lovell: No, no agent or manager is actively pushing their clients to make political statements.

Jacobsen: Are there any other legal aspects we should cover that are important for industry professionals to be aware of? The actor from Guardians of the Galaxy. He’s a Christian guy. He is probably in his late 30s or early 40s. What’s his name? His name is Chris Pratt. Chris Pratt is very open about his Christian faith. It does not seem to negatively impact his professional opportunities or success, and helps in some circles, it helps.

Your distinction between politics and religious views is important because it marks a unique shift in American culture over the last decade or two. Religious views are now less controversial than political views. Based on the evidence you’ve seen, why did that shift happen?

Lovell: People are generally more accepting of different religious views, especially in a society with various cultures and religions. Religion, for many, is a personal matter and does not necessarily directly affect workplace dynamics.

Politics, on the other hand, has become something entirely different. It is deeply personal, often more like a religion in itself. People hold their political beliefs so strongly that disagreements can ruin friendships and families.

By contrast, people tend to be more tolerant of religious differences. They may not agree with someone’s faith, but they are less likely to alienate them over it. Politics, however, is different—political disagreements have a much greater potential to cause division.

Jacobsen: Looking at high-profile cases—Alec Baldwin, Matthew Perry, Sean Combs—what can you say about the legal fallout that results from scandals or personal and professional crises in an actor’s life?  What is the level of stress that comes with a public controversy? The disincentive to avoid these situations must be extraordinary.

Lovell: Yes. Absolutely. Situations like these can ruin careers.

Legal issues can seriously impact an actor, depending on the circumstances. When a major controversy arises, the consequences can be severe.

Jacobsen: Thank you very much for your time today. 

Lovell: Thank you so much.

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