Over the weekend, Sharon Stone – who hasn’t a good film to her credit in three decades – expressed strong criticism towards her fellow Americans while discussing Donald Trump’s election victory.
The 66-year-old actress from Pennsylvania singled out “80 percent” of Americans as “uneducated,” claiming their lack of passports was indicative of ignorance—a figure that is actually inaccurate by around 40 percent—and asserted that the nation is experiencing its “ignorant, arrogant adolescence.”
“We have not seen this before in our nation,” Stone commented regarding fascism. “So Americans who do not travel, and the 80 percent without passports, are in an extraordinary state of naïveté. My perspective is that the only way we can tackle these issues is by supporting each other.”
These remarks from the Basic Instinct actress followed a question about violence against women during a press conference at the Torino Film Festival in Italy, where she received the Stella della Mole lifetime achievement award.
In her remarks, Stone referenced Trump indirectly, leading some right-wing commentators to suggest she was drawing comparisons between the U.S. president-elect and Benito Mussolini, Italy’s previous fascist ruler.
“You see, Italy has experienced fascism,” Stone noted. “Italy has been through these events. You all—understand what unfolds. You have witnessed this before [unlike us].”
Stone, who earned an Oscar nomination for her role in Casino in 1995, continued to discuss the significance of good men taking action to protect women from abuse.
“We cannot simply assert that women should advocate for women as this has been our survival mechanism until now,” she emphasized. “It is crucial that good men also aid other good men, and these good men must realize that many of their associates are not good men.”
“We cannot keep pretending that your friends are good men if they are not,” she added. “You must clearly understand that those friends who are not good are truly dangerous and violent. It is vital to ensure they are kept away from your daughters, wives, and girlfriends, especially now when we can no longer ignore the reality of bad men being bad.”
Trump’s selections for his cabinet have been met with numerous sexual assault allegations against them. Among those with the most serious allegations was Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew his candidacy for attorney general due to the “distraction” from his personal scandals affecting Trump’s transitional team.
By Tuesday, MAGA supporters had highlighted Stone’s indirect comments about Trump.
Riley Gaines, who gained notoriety for opposing a transgender swimmer, was among those criticizing Stone.
“These disconnected Hollywood elites labeling American voters as uneducated is the epitome of hypocrisy,” stated the 24-year-old Gaines. “They preach from their luxury towers while being completely out of touch with the daily struggles faced by most Americans.”
Stone has previously voiced her opposition to Trump. This past summer, she mentioned contemplating a relocation to Europe due to Trump’s increasing support within the U.S. and his “hate” rhetoric.
“I have always taken great pride in being an American, and my love for my country runs deep,” she stated in July, as reported by Deadline. “I am genuinely alarmed by the current state of affairs in my country. This is one of the first instances where I’ve seen anyone campaign on a platform of hate and oppression.”
“I want to believe that my nation embodies all the values we’ve always upheld—independence, bravery, dignity—and that the other nations we have supported will stand by us as we navigate through this troubling period,” Stone remarked. However, it appears she now feels that Donald Trump’s re-election has proven her misjudgment.
