Bill Burr says fixing America might take a ‘bloodbath’

Actor and comedian Bill Burr said he doesn’t know what it would take to fix what he described as an increasingly surveilled, “oppressive” America — but that it would probably require a violent reckoning, in a Rolling Stone interview published this week tied to his role in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming Facebook drama “The Social Reckoning.”

Asked directly what it would take for real change to happen in the country, Mr. Burr answered: “I don’t know. It would have to be a f—-ing bloodbath.” He compared the scenario to “Braveheart,” the 1995 film about a 13th-century Scottish uprising, joking that the only difference would be that everyone involved was dressed in Lululemon athleisure.

The comedian tied the remark to broader complaints about government surveillance, arguing officials track ordinary Americans’ movements not because of anything the public is doing, but to get ahead of backlash to actions the government itself is planning.

It wasn’t the first time Mr. Burr invoked violence while discussing American politics. In December 2024, days after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the comedian said on his podcast, “I love that f—-ing CEOs are f—-ing afraid right now.” The remarks drew criticism from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who accused Mr. Burr of “going woke.” Mr. Burr later dismissed the criticism, saying Mr. Shapiro didn’t understand the term.

That case resurfaced last month, when Luigi Mangione, the man charged in Thompson’s killing, pleaded guilty in federal court to two federal counts, interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death, each carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. In his allocution, Mr. Mangione said, “I shot Mr. Thompson and he died.” He still faces a separate murder charge in New York state court, which his defense is seeking to have dismissed on double-jeopardy grounds.