'The White Lotus' actor responded to the Supreme Court ruling on Instagram: 'America is getting dumber by the minute

• Michael Imperioli took to Instagram to express his views about the latest SCOTUS ruling on LGBTQ+ rights.
• On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a Colorado web designer could deny services to same-sex couples.
• In response, "The White Lotus" actor announced that he would "forbid bigots and homophobes" from watching his shows.

"The White Lotus" actor Michael Imperioli took to Instagram to express his views against the latest SCOTUS ruling that would effectively allow businesses to refuse to serve LGBTQ+ people if it contradicts their religious beliefs.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado cannot use its anti-discrimination law to force web designer Lorie Smith to create websites for same-sex couples because it goes against her First Amendment rights as a devout Christian.

In an Instagram post uploaded on Sunday, Imperioli responded to the ruling with a mix of sarcasm and humor by thanking the Supreme Court for allowing him to "forbid bigots and homophobes" from watching any of his shows.

 

"I've decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Goodfellas or any movie or tv show I've been in," the actor wrote in the caption, which accompanied an image of Smith with the words "Supreme Court protects web designer who won't do gay wedding websites."

"Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don't agree with and am opposed to. USA! USA!" he said in the caption.

In the comments section of his post — which was flooded with a mix of support and disagreement — the 57-year-old actor added that "America is becoming dumber by the minute."

"Hate and ignorance is not a legitimate point of view," Imperioli continued in the comments section. "It's called dehumanization."

The actor also responded to a comment that disagreed with his point of view.

"I'm in Australia and don't get the issue here. As a business owner, can't you choose who you want to do business with? There's no need to be nasty, just turn down their enquiry quietly," the comment read.

Imperioli fired back: "So if I don't want to serve Australians in my restaurant you are cool with that?" 

In April 2022, Imperioli talked to Spin about cancel culture and how it can be scary, "People have to have the opportunity to redeem themselves and to learn and to grow." He went on to mention that he is hopeful for the future and sees people in his kids' age group — he has two sons in their 20s — as having the potential to make things right.

"I have a lot of faith in the younger generation because they're a lot more open-minded than the ones I grew up with."