Hollywood goes all out against Trump
He may have his own Walk of Fame star, but Donald Trump is persona non grata in celebrity land
Hollywood is getting nervous about the possibility of having Republican nominee Donald Trump as president after the Nov 8 elections.
Recent polls show Mr Trump catching up with his Democratic Party rival Hillary Clinton over a renewed FBI investigation into her e-mails.
Several celebrities, from Alec Baldwin to Robert Downey Jr, have used the tools of their trade to mock and attack Mr Trump. (See report, below.).
"I will be funny in December," director Judd Apatow, 48, tweeted. "For now, I am more concerned with not electing a madman who incites violence and racism."
Actor Bryan Cranston, 60, who does a pretty good Trump impression himself, told podcast The Bestseller Experiment that if Mr Trump wins, he would "definitely move".
He said: "It's not real to me that that would happen. I hope to God it won't."
Echoing his sentiment is actress Cobie Smulders, who, when asked by The New Paper in a phone interview last month which presidential candidate she supported, confirmed she would back Mrs Clinton
"Of course I hope Hillary wins, because I just don't know what I will do if she doesn't. I can't even believe we're having this conversation," the 34-year-old Jack Reacher: Never Go Back star said.
Mr Trump could also jeopardise Hollywood's biggest overseas market: China.
He has vowed to "beat China" in the economic stakes, and throughout his electoral campaign, he has accused China of stealing American manufacturing jobs.
At the Republican National Convention in July, Mr Trump called the US' support for China's embrace of free trade a "colossal mistake".
China's box office was worth US$6.78 billion (S$9 billion) last year and the country is expected to overtake the US as the world's biggest movie market next year.
Hollywood has been catering to the Chinese market for years, casting Chinese stars like Angelababy, Fan Bingbing and Li Bingbing to draw Chinese viewers.
Chinese companies have also poured millions into Hollywood, with stakes in film companies such as Legendary Entertainment (Pacific Rim) and Lions Gate Entertainment (The Hunger Games).
If Mr Trump wins, and embitters relations with China, it could endanger Hollywood's Chinese box-office earnings.
Last month, Mr Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he earned in 2008 for his reality show The Apprentice, was smashed with a sledgehammer and pickaxe by an angry vandal.
It seems appropriate, given Mr Trump's fall from favour in Hollywood.
One moment he was a celebrated reality TV host and the next, he was the bogeyman feared for inciting racism and for his misogyny and xenophobic views.
Cranston believes the current political state of affairs will continue to provide fodder for artists everywhere.
"There'll be books written. There'll be movies made," he told USA Today.
"There will be theatrical productions about Donald Trump because of the anomaly that he presented."
"Of course I hope Hillary wins, because I just don't know what I will do if she doesn't. I can't even believe we're having this conversation."
- Actress Cobie Smulders
Celebs vs Trump
With the US presidential election around the corner, Hollywood celebrities are working hard to make their voices heard -- and that includes having a field day with their anti-Donald Trump videos.
Here are three of our top picks...
SNL TAKES ON THE TRUMP TAPE
Alec Baldwin got rave reviews for his portrayal of Mr Trump on episodes of Saturday Night Live, and for good reason. Baldwin nailed his impression of Trump in the NBC sketch comedy show, which saw Kate McKinnon play Mrs Clinton.
In this episode, released a day after a 2005 recording of Mr Trump making lewd comments about women surfaced, Cecily Strongplays CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin, who questions Baldwin's Trump.
As Mr Trump, Baldwin jokes that the damning conversation took place 11 years ago, "back when I was a young, childish 59-year-old man".
While many Americans were amused, Mr Trump criticised Baldwin's performance on Twitter, calling for an end to the show.
"Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!" he wrote.
IMPORTANT (SAVE THE DAY. VOTE)
The Avengers director Joss Whedon assembled a "tonne of famous people" for his public service announcement urging Americans to vote in the election.
Stars such as Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, James Franco, Julianne Moore and Neil Patrick Harrislent their support to this tongue-in-cheek video.
Although Mr Trump is not named, actor Don Cheadledescribes him as a "racist abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society".
The stars also joke about getting Ruffalo to do a nude scene in his next movie to encourage viewers to vote.
WILL.I.AM FEAT APL.DE.AP AND LIANE V - GRAB'M BY THE P****Y
Using Mr Trump's infamous sexist line about women as the title for this parody song, The Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am dons a blond wig in the most unconvincing Trump impersonation ever.
Despite the lack of physical resemblance to Mr Trump, will.i.am roasts the Republican presidential candidate in this catchy tune.
"Got the KKK supporting me/ And the black community," says will.i.am as Mr Trump.
He also mocks Mr Trump's inability to answer questions about the Syrian crisis and war in Afghanistan.
The video concludes with will.i.am appearing as himself, asking viewers to vote for Mrs Clinton.
"Donald Trump does not look like the President of the United States of America, nor should he be," he says.
"If this was a TV show, maybe I would watch it, it would be pretty funny... This is real life with real life problems."
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