Conservative Hollywood Scribe Says Trump's Rise Straining Showbiz Relationships
HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Oscar nominee Lionel Chetwyn has long been outspoken about his Republican political leanings.
That makes the veteran writer, producer and director something of an outsider in his heavily Democratic industry.
But he's finding it more difficult than ever to have political discussions with others in the industry during this presidential campaign cycle -- thanks, he says, to Donald Trump.
"Someone says 'Trump,' I hear 'Trump,'" he said. "Too many of my liberal friends hear 'Hitler.'"
It's hard to have a conversation without the topic coming up, Chetwyn said.
"I ran into a friend -- a good friend, someone I've known 30 years -- and he said, 'Before you say anything, tell me. Just don't tell me you like Donald Trump,'" he said. "I hear that in my sleep now. 'Don't tell me you like Donald Trump.' Is that instead of hello?"
Chetwyn, for his part, said he's a moderate conservative.
If the general election race comes down to Trump and Hillary Clinton, he told CBS2's Tom Wait he won't be voting for Clinton.
Being outspoken is in Chetwyn's nature, and he plans to stay that way. But he says others who share his politics may go back into hiding.
"We're drawing again into the cocoon and that's terribly sad for Hollywood and for America," he said.
He said Hollywood would be wise to pay attention to Trump's supporters, who often say they aren't represented by Hollywood and the media.
"Hollywood doesn't realize it's part of the very elite that's being rejected across the country," he said.
