The Supreme Court’s ruling in a religious freedom case that a Christian graphic designer couldn’t be forced to make websites for same-sex marriages had some on the left celebrating that they now have been given a license to discriminate against conservatives, with one of them being actor Michael Imperioli.
Imperioli, who became famous for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano’s “nephew” Christopher Moltisanti reacted to the 6-3 decision in favor of Colorado web designer Lorie Smith’s First Amendment rights, declaring that people whom he disagrees with politically are now banned from watching the HBO series or any of the other movies and television shows in which he’s acted.
“I’ve decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Goodfellas or any movie or tv show I’ve been in,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to. USA ! USA!”
(Image: Screengrab/Instagram)
“Hate and ignorance is not a legitimate point of view,” he added. “America is becoming dumber by the minute.”
Twitter users reacted to Imperioli’s silly statement with some pointing to the hypocrisy that his foul-mouthed racist character was far less the flaming liberal than he is in real life, and pointing out that his post-Sopranos career has been sleeping with the fishes.
Actor Michael Imperioli says he’s “decided to forbid bigots and homophobes” from watching his work following Supreme Court ruling
TRANSLATION: who?
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) July 2, 2023
Translation: I forbid bigots and homophobes to watch a TV show I made millions $$$ on portraying a bigot and homophobe. That’s Hollywood in a nutshell. https://t.co/69IjcsHgFB
— Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) July 2, 2023
Actor Michael Imperioli says he’s “decided to forbid bigots and homophobes” from watching his work following Supreme Court ruling. He was a second tier actor on a show 20 years ago. Nobody is watching him today.
— Pamela Hensley (@PamelaHensley22) July 3, 2023
Who wants to watch the work of a D-list actor like Michael Imperioli and does this mean his bigot ass is not going to watch his own work? https://t.co/IIveYKbzed
— Mandy (@ohmandy1970) July 2, 2023
He’s still alive?
— Joelle Trieste, PhD (@joelle_trieste) July 3, 2023
Michael Imperioli said we’re not allowed to watch him if we agree with the Supreme Court rulings but how is he going to check on 329 million people? Oh who am I kidding he’d only have to check on about three people!!
— Ultra MAGA Joyce Day (@Daytobehappy) July 2, 2023
I don’t think he has much that anyone wants to see at this point
— John W. (@Ok2BeKind) July 2, 2023
Of course he will say that after his career is long over. He has nothing to worry about. Nobody is watching anything he does these days anyway. This is not a win.
— DJ White (@dwhite0279) July 3, 2023
Well, honestly, you were the worst actor on the series. You definitely did not even stand a chance beside the other people that acted on the sopranos but go ahead and lecture us. We need it you’re so much better than everyone else is.
— Conlee Pettimore (@bobruocco) July 2, 2023
Michael who?
— Bayou_1947 (@Bayou1947) July 3, 2023
The now 57-year-old actor is also known for his role in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 gangster classic “Goodfellas” as the ill-fated errand boy Spider as well as other supporting roles until he hit it big by being cast in “The Sopranos” from 1999-2007. He co-hosted a popular podcast called “Talking Sopranos” with Steve Schirripa, a fellow actor from the series, where the two broke down every one of the show’s episodes in depth. He also has a lead role in HBO’s “The White Lotus.”
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