Mega Hollywood Stars Once Rolled Out This Anti-Trump Video That Ex-Prez Wouldn't Want You to See

Former President Donald Trump would have been embarrassed at the singular act of political activity during the intense 2016 presidential election season, which saw Hollywood elites come together. A star-studded anti-Trump commercial, featuring A-list celebrities, was created and spearheaded by renowned director Joss Whedon in order to bring more awareness about the kind of candidates standing up for the election.

Known for his work on The Avengers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Whedon directed the resultant video, Important, which included the who's who of Hollywood, per The Hollywood Reporter. Celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr., contributed their voices and faces to the cause. Ruffalo advised in the video, “Tell the world you care about what happens to it.” Agent Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, remarked, “See, this isn’t just an election. It’s a tipping point.” West Wing actor Martin Sheen asserted, “We cannot pretend that both sides are equally unfavorable.”

Although several good arguments were raised about the infamous nature of Trump, the best retort was, perhaps, offered by Don Cheadle (who portrays War Machine in many Avengers movies). The actor said the country could not allow a 'racist, abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society' to hold the nation's highest office, per Inverse. Known for his portrayal as the Hulk, Ruffalo also made a cheeky vow in one of the video's most talked-about moments, per Campaign. If people showed up to vote, he jokingly promised to do a nude scene in his next film, to which Downey Jr. said, "Mark's gonna have his d**k out."

The video's idea was straightforward yet powerful: celebrities encouraged viewers to cast their ballots only after putting in significant thought behind whom they wanted in office, highlighting the significance and power of each person's vote. “It’s not about attacking because Donny’s real good at attacking himself,” said Whedon. “It’s about getting people to vote because it’s frightening the apathy that people are treating the most crucial election of their lifetimes with.”

The video originated from Whedon's pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC Save the Day. Along with other A-list celebrities, the video also featured Cobie Smulders, Stanley Tucci, and Neil Patrick Harris, to name a few. The celebrities framed the election as a turning point in American history by bringing attention to topics like equality, climate change, and civil rights.

Hollywood has had a long tradition of endorsing Democratic politicians, and Whedon is one of several well-known figures in the entertainment sector who donated to Clinton in the 2016 election. 2015 saw generous donations of $1 million each from media magnate Haim Saban, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg to the pro-Clinton super PAC Priorities USA. Norman Lear established the progressive nonprofit organization People for the American Way as early as 1980. However, it was still Trump that ended up winning the 2016 election.

This article was originally published on 8.08.24.