After the Supreme Court’s historic victory overturning a Colorado statute that would have forced a Christian graphic designer to develop a website for a same-sex wedding, actor Michael Imperioli vented his frustration over the weekend.
By a vote of 6-3, the Supreme Court ruled in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis that the state civil rights legislation could not compel Lorie Smith to build websites that violated her deeply held religious views.
In response to the verdict, actor Michael Imperioli, well known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” said on Instagram that he “decided” to forbid homophobes and bigots from watching any movie or tv show he’s been in.
Stupidly, he felt that the Supreme Court’s ruling meant he could discriminate against people he disagreed with and who wanted to undermine his values.
It can be assumed the actor would be okay with being forced to perform in a Broadway play where he earnestly speaks words that he finds abhorrent.
He ended his lunkheaded rant with “U.S.A., U.S.A.!” (An allusion to the equally stupid belief that patriots and flag wavers are bigots and homophobes.)
With no sense of irony, the ill-informed actor said that Americans are getting “stupider by the second.”
Imperioli is a staunch supporter of the LGBT community and routinely writes and speaks out about it on social media.
In January, he uploaded a trans flag to his social media stream, showing that he strongly supports the transgender community, saying, “Be tough” and “Refuse to be bullied.”
After being asked to appear on multiple news programs and declining, he finally posted a response to the fallout. He said he supports the rights of all people to freedom of thought, expression, and the pursuit of happiness. He said he also believes in the First Amendment’s separation of church and state — which means that the state cannot force you to participate in an act that violates your religious principles.
Someone smarter than Imperioli, it seems, pulled him aside and explained how ignorant he was.
