“The Office” actor Rainn Wilson says he’s tired of what he calls political hypocrisy after Democratic leaders gave Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner a pass for a Nazi tattoo—while criticizing how similar conduct from the other side would be treated.
Rainn Wilson didn’t sound surprised so much as exhausted.
In an interview with Fox News Digital on Sunday. the former “The Office” star said he was “tired of the ‘hypocrisy’” he believes runs through American politics. His focus landed on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. a Democrat who has faced backlash over a Nazi tattoo on his chest—something Wilson argues Democratic leaders have been more willing to let slide.
Wilson pointed to what he says is a double standard between sides. “The political right is all up in arms about that ‘Oh, he’s a racist, see,’” he said of Platner. “But they won’t look at their own side when people show racist tendencies or say racist things.”
He then turned to his broader complaint: “And it’s the same on the left. They’re willing to overlook the Platner Nazi tattoo. but if it was someone from the other side that had a tattoo that was questionable. they would be all over MSNBC about it.” Wilson also framed the issue as a failure of equal expectations. saying. “It’s the hypocrisy that gets me the most. ” adding. “It’s the hypocrisy of like. both sides need to have. kind of. equal standards of behavior.”.
Platner’s campaign, Wilson said, is living in a world where controversy can be traded away—at least for now. His remarks came as the Senate hopeful weathered several escalating issues in recent weeks.
The tattoo has been at the center of it. Platner’s Nazi “Totenkopf” tattoo—described as having been on his chest—was later removed. But the matter didn’t end there. After the tattoo story, news broke that he sexted a number of women who were not his wife. At the same time, “a ton of unsavory Reddit posts have been unearthed too.”.
Even with that pileup of allegations and controversy, Platner moved forward. Wilson noted that none of it stopped him from easily winning the Democratic primary earlier this month.
The candidate’s standing has also been reinforced by high-profile support. The report says Platner received backing from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), though it adds that Warren has been “fairly quiet” on him recently as more bad news emerged. Meanwhile, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has been harsher, skewering Platner for lying about his Nazi tattoo and raising other issues.
Fetterman’s criticism came with his own cutting sarcasm, telling Fox News, “So I assume, you know, it’s like they say, for every ranch you see in Texas, there’s 50 that you haven’t seen.” He added, “So I’m sure there’s plenty, a lot of more ranches in P-Hustle’s life.”
For Wilson. the clash is less about a single controversy than what it says about how quickly politicians judge—until they don’t. His complaint is that the same standard that gets enforced loudly on one side can seem to soften on the other. even when the subject is a Nazi tattoo and other allegations swirl at the same time.
Rainn Wilson The Office Graham Platner Maine Senate Nazi tattoo Ro Khanna Elizabeth Warren John Fetterman U.S. politics Democratic primary
So they just “give him a pass”? That’s wild.
I didn’t even know the tattoo was a thing till this. If it was on the other guy they would be screaming nonstop on every channel lol. Politics is just selective outrage.
Wait I thought the tattoo already got removed so… what’s the big deal now? Like he did the right thing right? Also “Totenkopf” sounds like a band name or something? Not saying it’s ok just confused why everyone acts like it’s still there.
Rainn Wilson acting like he’s above it all when he’s literally in the media too. But I guess he’s right that both sides play whack-a-mole with racism accusations. One side posts it everywhere, the other side shrugs and calls it “context” or whatever. And then somehow it becomes a campaign strategy.