Baz Luhrmann has weighed in on whether celebrities should speak out about politics after a number of artists have used their platform to discuss a number of issues, in particular ICE.
Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish both criticised ICE agents during their Grammy-winning speeches earlier this month; Tom Morello and Bruce Springsteen played a benefit in Minneapolis for the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti; and just last week at their Super Bowl pre-game show, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong encouraged ICE agents to quit their “shitty ass job.”
Appearing on the latest episode of the Rolling Stone Uncut podcast while promoting his new film, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, Luhrmann discussed a particular scene in the movie where Elvis pushes back on a journalist asking about his political views, insisting he is just an entertainer but that others should be able to if they wish.
“This is the whole point of the documentary. [Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker] taught Elvis from very early on,” Luhrmann said.
“When [Presley] was young, he was very outspoken… but he was taught to just back off. But in his songs, he expressed himself. The Colonel had nothing to do with that. So when he went to sing ‘In the Ghetto,’ everyone’s like, ‘Do not do that song.’ And it was his number one hit. I’m very proud when he does the song ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’. ‘There are people on reservation and out in the ghetto… but for the grace of God go you and I… before you abuse, criticise and accuse walk a mile in my shoes.’ That’s a song of empathy.”
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
View this post on Instagram
He continued: “As an artist, you have to express yourself, no matter what form you do it in. And some do it through their work, and some also stand up and have a political view. You want to ask me my point of view about certain things going on? I think citizens in Iran who are protesting, or citizens in America who are protesting [against] a government shooting them? I’m thinking that’s probably friggin’ absolutely, totally, morally wrong.”
Watch or listen to the full podcast out now.
