Dave Bautista says celebrities need to be ‘outspoken’ about their political views

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ star has strongly criticised Donald Trump in the past

Dave Bautista, the actor and former WWE wrestler best known for his role in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, has spoken out about the need for celebrities to share their political opinions.

“I was never really politically outspoken until recently,” he explained in an interview with The Independent. “But I feel obligated because I think things have gotten so bad.

“I never really wanted to influence anybody’s opinion, but now I think it’s come to the point where things have gotten so bad that you pick a side, and you voice your opinion, and hopefully people will follow suit.”

Bautista is one of the US film industry’s most politically outspoken personalities.

He was engaged in a widely publicised dispute with Disney over the firing of director James Gunn from the forthcoming Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3.

Last year, Bautista called President Trump an “elitist POS” in an angry tweet, writing: ”He’s never wanted for anything. He’s never had to fight or go hungry! He doesn’t know what the American Dream is. He’s a disgrace to everything this country is.”

“How the hell did a lying, pampas [sic], orange, ignorant, cheap salesman tear us apart?” he added.

Bautista can be seen in My Spy, out in cinemas from Friday 13 March.