Q: Why Did Charlie Chaplin Refuse to Step Foot in America?

A: Well, Charlie Chaplin’s enmity for the US wasn’t always the case. The silent-screen movie legend, famed for his work as the hapless tramp character in The Gold Rush and City Lights, was enormously popular in the 1920s and 1930s the world over.

Unfortunately, however, his leftie politics and racy personal life (he had a habit of marrying teenagers) began to catch up with him during the increasingly conservative Cold War era. Accused of being a communist, Chaplin found his visa revoked after a trip abroad in 1952, which quickly made the film star irate.

Rightfully angry, the man known for being mute had this to say: “I have no further use for America. I wouldn’t go back there if Jesus Christ was president.” Of course, that wasn’t exactly the case. The truth is he only waited until Richard Nixon was president, turning up to receive a lifetime achievement Oscar at the 1972 Academy Awards.

Article Author: Mental_Floss

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