Hollywood actress Justine Bateman, known for her role in Family Ties, has drawn attention for her outspoken criticism of what she describes as a suppression of free expression during the Biden administration.
At a glance:
- Justine Bateman likened Biden-era culture to Orwell’s 1984, citing social media “mob rule” as a barrier to free expression.
- She expressed relief at Donald Trump’s election victory, which she said lifted a “suffocating cloud” over free speech.
- Bateman emphasized the importance of diverse opinions and the dangers of suppressing public discourse.
Justine Bateman, a household name since her role as Mallory Keaton on Family Ties, has been unflinching in her critique of modern political and cultural dynamics. Bateman told The New York Post that the Biden years felt like living under a “cloud that has been pressing down on society,” where public discourse was policed and dissent discouraged.
“Man, we just went ‘1984’ on ourselves,” Bateman said, referring to Orwell’s dystopian novel. “Reporting the surveillance, surveilling each other. Come on. Why? Don’t you want to relax? Do you always want to feel like you are testifying? Do you always want to feel like somebody is recording evidence that’s going to be brought into a court of law? Why do you want to live like that?”
The Backlash and Isolation
Bateman revealed that her public statements have come at a personal cost. “I did have friends say, ‘I love you, call me anytime, but I have to unfollow you’ or ‘I have to distance myself from you online, publicly.’” She also noted being labeled with harsh terms like “Nazi” for expressing her opinions, but she remains steadfast in her views.
Bateman pointed to the stifling of debate on hot-button issues, stating, “One could not even ask a question about something. One could not even engage in a debate about things like trans women playing in sports, about trans women… being in women’s locker rooms or bathrooms or prisons. And to not allow the public to freely engage about the benefits and dangers of these types of decisions, I think that is un-American.”
She described feeling a “relief” after Trump’s election victory, likening it to a balloon deflating. “I didn’t realize how uncomfortable the last four years had felt until I felt that balloon deflate,” she said.
Bateman also credited Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter as another moment of relief. She said, “First time I felt a little air go out of that [so-called balloon] was when Elon Musk bought Twitter. And I’m just saying how it felt. I’m not saying what was the consequence of that or anything. I just felt it deflate a little bit.”
Advocating for Free Speech
Bateman has been vocal about her belief in open discourse, saying, “There’s room for all experiences. There’s room for all opinions. There’s room for all thoughts. That’s my point. And it is the American way. And we Americans are going to preserve that.”
She warned against mob mentality, stating, “The only way you can rip people down and ruin their careers, ruin them socially, all of that is if you have a mob mentality momentum. And it’s happened many times in history; witch burning, the HUAC trials, the Red Scare, the McCarthy hearings.”
Bateman’s focus is not on political affiliations but on preserving free expression. “Politics is not interesting to me… it’s more of a spiritual shift that I felt, that’s it,” she said.
As a filmmaker and director, Bateman continues to champion individuality and creativity, working on projects that reflect her vision for a freer, more open society. For her, the fight is not about partisanship but ensuring every voice has a place in the conversation.
