9 Celebrities Who Were Accused of Being Unpatriotic

To be unpatriotic means “showing a lack of love for your country.” Most Americans who have opposed war are anonymous faces in the crowd, and their protests haven’t cost them that much. But for famous actors like actor Martin Sheen, freedom of speech meant putting his career in jeopardy and his life in danger. Sheen and other anti-war celebrities are often labeled as “unpatriotic” or “un-American.” And Sheen is no first. Celebrities have long brought on controversy for their views on American politics, particularly when it comes to war and Civil Rights. Because of their actions and stances, these celebrities have been targeted. Some have even lost popularity, at least during the time of the controversy. Here are nine celebrities who were accused of being unpatriotic.

Harry Belafonte

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Actor and musician Harry Belafonte was another celebrity blacklisted by the Red Scare. Belafonte was a leading figure of the Civil Rights movement. He worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr. and served as one of the most important Hollywood figures in support of the movement. He built coalitions that attacked racism, opposed the Vietnam War, struggled for women’s rights and greater social and economic justice. Belafonte continued to take controversial stands against U.S. policy, including opposition to the embargo on Cuba and support of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. In 2002, he made headlines when he compared Colin Powell to a plantation house slave leading up to the Iraq War.

Michael Moore

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Michael Moore is recognized today as one of the most controversial figures in documentary filmmaking. His works have criticized the way America does its business, from foreign policy in “Fahrenheit 9/11” to healthcare issues in “Sicko.” After the release of Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper,” Moore released a series of tweets condemning snipers. “My uncle was killed by sniper in WW2,” Moore tweeted. “We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders r worse.” He continued, “But if you’re on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who’ve come 7k miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor.” The backlash was almost immediate, with conservative Fox News host Sean Hannity calling Moore an idiot. “Hey Michael, when snipers like Chris Kyle are saving AMERICAN lives, that would be a good thing,” Hannity wrote. “Even an idiot like U can get that.”

Seth Rogen

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Moore was not the only celebrity blasted for his remarks about “American Sniper.” Actor and comedian Seth Rogen was blasted by many conservatives when he compared “American Sniper” to Quentin Tarantino’s Nazi-propaganda film “Inglorious Bastards,” on Twitter. They claimed that his tweets disrespected the film’s subject, deceased Navy Seal sniper, Chris Kyle. In a statement issued to the Associated Press, he said his intent wasn’t to offend anyone or to say anything with political implications. Rogen later said that he liked “American Sniper,” and that certain scenes reminded him of Tarantino’s film only because they both involved plots about the most lethal of snipers.