In a March 10, 2026, TMZ interview, KISS co-founder Gene Simmons blasted celebrities like Ben Stiller and Mark Ruffalo for criticizing President Trump’s use of movie clips, such as some from Tropic Thunder, in alleged “war propaganda” amid U.S. military actions most likely strikes in Iran.
Simmons urged entertainers to “shut the f**k up,” focus on art, and stop lecturing hardworking Americans from their mansions and Rolls-Royces, saying “nobody cares what you think.” He mocked Ruffalo’s name pronunciation and emphasized privacy in politics.
In any case, the clip began with the interviewer asking, “I know right now Ben Stiller is calling out the president, saying he doesn’t want him to use his movie clips for war propaganda. I mean, it sounds like a lot of people are kind of, you know, criticizing Trump, like Hollywood right now, you know, over this war thing.”
Responding, the rock star added, totally skewering the actors at issue and their ridiculous opinions, “Yeah, because everybody in the world should listen to what actors and comedians say, because they’re so qualified. Basically, shut the f**k up. Do your art and shut up. Nobody’s interested in your opinions.”
Building on that same point about the exceedingly tiresome limousine liberals, Simmons then added, “That includes me, who I vote for, who I like, who the fuck do you think you are? People in America work hard for a living, and they don’t want to be lectured to by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces.”
He concluded with a message to the entertainment industry generally, saying, “It’s time for everybody in the entertainment industry to shut their pie hole and just do your art. Nobody cares what you think. I don’t know what Mark Ruffalo will do; however, he pronounces Ruffalo buffalo. Hello. What does Mark think about politics? I don’t care.”
Watch the clip here:
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In a comment on his relationship to the president, Simmons said, “Not everybody loves Jesus, but you can certainly say the following: he was a duly elected president of these United States, perhaps overwhelming by the popular vote, as well as the Electoral College. End of story.”
Posting the clip, one commentator noted, “BREAKING – KISS cofounder Gene Simmons says it is time for celebrities like Ben Stiller and Mark Ruffalo to ‘shut the f*ck up.'” Agreeing with a comment added, “Most celebrities are so removed from reality that their opinions are irrelevant.”
Angry, a conservative stated, “Gene is 100% right… I am not even sure we share the same beliefs but if you make a living in entertainment then you cannot repulse the people who are entertained by you. It is sad that I cannot stand watching the Marvel Universe anymore, Hanks’s movies etc.”
“When I see them all I can think about is – how the hell can they think it is ok to trans children? WTF is wrong with them and I do not even see the movie… That is the fact…” the same comment explained. “Gene is right this time. People on private jets don’t need to tell us about the climate-change,” one response read.
Featured image from embedded video