Iconic Actor Says the Industry’s ‘Soul is Rotting’ as Stars Flee Woke Culture

Rob Schneider isn’t mincing words anymore.

The longtime comedian says Hollywood’s “soul is rotting,” and he’s blaming a culture that punishes anyone who dares admit they lean right—especially now that Donald Trump is back in the White House.

In a blunt new interview, Schneider said the entertainment industry has become a “self-policing ideological machine,” one that blacklists performers for refusing to toe the progressive line.

“When I stopped pretending and started telling the truth about what I believe,” Schneider said, “my phone stopped ringing. That was it for me starring in movies. Gone. Overnight.”

Schneider rose to fame on “Saturday Night Live” in the 1990s and built a steady movie career with hits like “Deuce Bigalow” and “The Hot Chick.” But he says his career crashed the moment he acknowledged he was conservative.

The problem, he argues, is bigger than him.

“The industry says it loves bravery,” Schneider said. “But in 2026, bravery means agreeing with whatever the loudest online mob wants. If you don’t, they erase you.”

Schneider made the comments on the “American Thought Leaders” podcast, where he warned that Hollywood’s obsession with political conformity is destroying it from the inside.

“In an age of lies, telling the truth is a courageous act,” he said. “I’m not comparing myself to real heroes. Those people are buried in our national cemeteries. But I am saying the cost of honesty in my business is real.”

He joked that losing future sequels to “Deuce Bigalow” wasn’t the end of the world. “Trust me, America will survive without a Bigalow 5,” he laughed. “But the principle behind it matters.”

Schneider says studio executives panic at even mild controversy.

“Hollywood wants you quiet. They want compliance. They don’t want anybody being mouthy—unless you’re attacking conservatives,” he said. “If you’re criticizing the left, they call it dangerous.”

He pointed to the chaos of 2025, when ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel after remarks he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sparking national outrage. Schneider said the punishment proved that speech is never truly free in Hollywood.

“You can speak,” he said. “But it’s going to cost you.”

Schneider also brought up legendary actor Charlton Heston—an early civil rights activist who was later frozen out of the industry for supporting conservative causes.

“Heston marched with Dr. King. He stood for equality,” Schneider said. “But the moment he didn’t fit the left’s script anymore, Hollywood rejected him. That’s shameful. That’s the rot.”

He argues the same pattern is repeating today, only faster.

Schneider believes the entertainment landscape is changing at warp speed, and not in Hollywood’s favor.

“People are done being lectured by millionaire actors,” he said. “Why would anyone pay $18 for a movie ticket just to be insulted? Millions are turning to social media instead. It’s real. It’s funny. It’s free.”

He predicts that within five years, large sections of Los Angeles’ historic studio lots will be sold off as the industry shrinks.

“These massive studios will be real estate,” he said. “That’s where it’s heading. You’re already seeing the implosion.”

Schneider says he’s not bitter—only concerned.

“If we want a free society, we need people willing to take the hits and speak honestly,” he said. “Otherwise we’re just letting the loudest bullies run the show.”

For now, he’s focused on touring, podcasting, and speaking to audiences who he says are “fed up with Hollywood’s hypocrisy.”

“Americans still love comedy,” Schneider added. “They just don’t love being told what to believe.”