Matthew McConaughey slams cancel culture and ‘illiberal left’ on Good Morning Britain

Matthew McConaughey has hit out at cancel culture saying that the left needs “liberals” not “illiberals”.

The Hollywood star was accused of “white privilege” earlier this month after he called Democrats hypocritical for criticising Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election when they refused to accept his win in 2016.

He sparked outrage after he told Russell Brand in an interview for the comedian’s YouTube show that the “illiberal left” were being “condescending” to Trump supporters.

His initial comments came after he said he would consider running for the Governor of Texas in the future.

Mr McConaughey doubled down on those remarks today on Good Morning Britain, telling Piers Morgan that he was concerned for the future of free speech.

He said: “You need liberals, what I don’t think we need is the illiberals and what I don’t think that some liberals see is that they’re often being cannibalised by the illiberals.”

The academy award winning actor told the show that there are extremes on both sides, which he thinks are “unfair”.

“There are extremes on both sides that I think are unfair, that I don’t think are the right place to be.”

“The extreme left and the extreme right completely illegitimise the other side. The liberal and the conservative side… or they exaggerate that side’s stance into an irrational state and that’s not fair when either side does that.”

He added: “Where the waterline’s gonna land on this freedom of speech and what we allow and what we don’t on this cancel culture… is a very interesting place in society trying to figure out because we haven’t found the right spot.”

Mr McConaughey won the Academy award for best actor for his role in Dallas Buyer’s club.

He was on Good Morning Britain to promote his memoir “Greenlights,” in which he revealed that he was a victim of sexual abuse during his teenage years.