Antonio Sabato Jr says supporting Trump got him 'blacklisted' from Hollywood in 2016: 'It’s a disgrace'
Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. recently opened up about how Hollywood ousted him following his public support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in 2016. Speaking to Variety in an interview published on Tuesday, the 48-year-old recalled how he had to leave Tinseltown shortly after Trump won the presidential bid.
“I had to sell everything. I had to pay all my debts," he began. "I was blacklisted. All my representatives left me, from agents to managers to commercial agents. I literally had to move, find a new job to survive and take care of my kids."
"It’s been terrible. It’s mind-blowing. It’s a disgrace," he continued. "It’s tough, because if you’re in that environment in Hollywood and you have something to say that they don’t like, they’re going to let you know."
Sabato, who was critically acclaimed for his performances in TV shows including 'Melrose Place', 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and 'General Hospital', was among a select number of celebrities who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July 2016.
"I was the first celebrity to come out and talk about the president, and he had my vote from day one,” he told the outlet. “I was the first one to say he was going to win. My integrity is intact. What I believe in is still intact. What doesn’t break you makes you stronger – that’s what they say. So I’m stronger than ever, and I didn’t have to lie about who I am."
Sabato ran for a Congressional seat in 2018, but lost to California Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley. He then decided to move to Florida, where he now works in construction.
"I’m on the ground,” Sabato said of his new life. "I go on the job at two in the morning, and I’m making sure that the job is controlled and supervised by me. I’m in the car all day, driving, going through all the sites. Five days a week, nonstop."
He suggested there were several Trump supporters in the entertainment industry. However, they are allegedly too afraid to reveal their political views considering the possible ramifications. "I know a lot of actors who are lying about who they’re going to vote for because they don’t want the crap," he said. "They won’t want to be talked about and fired from movie sets. This is serious."
Sabato recalled one incident when he was turned down for a job owing to his support for the president.
"I was talking to a distribution company about producing a film that was set to go, and they told me to my face, ‘We will never distribute a movie with you in it because of your affiliation with the president,’” he remembered. "The reality is the power that makes movies happen in Hollywood – casting directors, producers, executive producers, directors – they’re all liberal. They hate anyone or anything who supports this president."
And when Sabato recently reached out to his former managers to see if they were willing to work with him again, they allegedly said, "No, we’re not going to represent you." “Not a reason. Just no, plain and simple. They wouldn’t touch me because it would be too tough to get me a job," the 'Shark Hunter' star said.
However, the former Calvin Klein model still hopes someone will take a chance on him despite being rejected several times. "I always hope there’s some serious people out there that want to hire me for my talent,” he stated. “I rarely talked politics on sets anyway. That’s the last thing I want to do."
One would think after what Sabato went through, he would rescind his support for Trump. But 'The Chaos Factor' star is a different kind of beast. When asked if he would still support Trump's re-election in 2020, he said, "Of course." "The country is doing fantastic," Sabato opined. "I think he’ll be elected by 100 million votes."