In a bold move, 82-year-old Mick Jagger has declared that his job as the frontman of the Rolling Stones is to entertain the crowd, not to lecture them on politics.
Jagger's stance is refreshing in an era where many entertainers, from music to movies, believe they have a moral mandate to infuse their work with resistance politics. The Rolling Stones' frontman has been open about his ego, acknowledging that he has learned to switch it off when not on stage. However, he is clear that his audience comes to enjoy the music, not to engage in a back-and-forth on politics.
Unlike Bruce Springsteen, who has been fusing his greatest hits with Trump resistance storylines on his unofficial No Kings tour, Jagger takes a different approach. When asked by the New York Times' David Marchese what his relationship to the audience means to him, Jagger responded thoughtfully. He acknowledged that when he plays music festivals like Glastonbury or the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the crowd isn't necessarily there to see the Stones. His goal is to put fans in a state where their worries can melt away, much like a sporting event. "My job in the live music world is for those people that come to have the best time," Jagger said.
In a world where politics dominates everything we do, Jagger's stance is a breath of fresh air. Many entertainers believe they have a platform to lecture their audiences on politics, but Jagger is clear that his job is to entertain, not to divide. His approach is all the more refreshing given the toxic state of culture in 2026, where many entertainers have lost touch with their audiences. As Pedro Almodóvar, the 76-year-old Spanish director, pointed out after the Oscars in May, even the red carpet was a parade of anti-ICE and anti-Israel protests, but somehow it wasn't enough.
Jagger's declaration is a welcome respite from the toxic culture of resistance politics that has infected the entertainment industry. It's not just the Rolling Stones' frontman who understands this; there are a few rare exceptions, such as Kevin Hart, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Duhamel, and Kevin James. But anytime a new star tries to say maybe all this lecturing isn't a great idea, out come Hollywood's pitchforks. As Dwayne Johnson recently found out, saying you're going to stay mum on politics to focus on your screen work is enough to earn you the label of "coward."
In a world where politics is always on tap, Jagger's approach is a reminder that entertainment should be just that – entertainment. When people come together to enjoy the thing they have in common, love of the art, there's communion. But when politics gets in the way, there's only division and bizarre political tribes. As Jagger himself said, his job is to put fans in a state where their worries can melt away, not to lecture them on politics.
Source: NYPOST
