Nearly any attempt to watch an awards show with the hope of avoiding politics these days is an exercise in futility.
Christian Bale’s hat tip to Satan while accepting a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Dick Cheney in “Vice” is par for the course for the Hollywood set. The question is whether it’s worth anyone’s energy to get worked up over such displays.
Bale’s quip drew angry reactions from conservatives and guffaws from liberals on social media. Cheney’s daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., tweeted out a story about Bale’s arrest for assault against his mother and sister, suggesting Satan inspired him to do that as well. It got so absurd even the Church of Satan weighed in.
None of this is terribly surprising. The music industry and Hollywood, with some exceptions, are dominated by liberals. Awards shows put these artists in a comfort zone, surrounded by like-minded friends and colleagues. It’s not as though they’re going to boo Bale.
Ratings for awards shows have been sinking fast in overall viewership going back to 2011. While some will argue it’s due to the increase in political showmanship, one could also argue the shows have become dull. Political correctness has managed to create an environment in which the productions are overly scripted and carefully crafted so as to avoid offending anyone — except for Republicans and conservatives.
Still, many conservatives still find the shows entertaining and tune in. That’s good. They should accept the status quo, defeatist as that may sound. Lower expectations and hope to get through the Grammys, Oscars, or Golden Globes without some celebrity vomiting out yet another in a long list of vapid political opinions or petty insults. It’s either that or tune out entirely.
