Politics surfaced again during a press event for the film Sunny Dancer, starring Neil Patrick Harris, as reporters pressed the actor on whether art should serve as political activism.

Harris, best known for his role in How I Met Your Mother, was asked whether he believes art is inherently political and how movies can help “fight the rise of fascism in Europe and in America.”

“I think we live in a strangely algorithmic and divided world right now,” Harris responded. “So, as artists, I’m always interested in doing things that are apolitical, because we’re all as humans wanting to connect in some way. That’s why we experience things together.”

According to reports from the event, the comment drew sharp criticism from some journalists in the room, with one calling his apolitical stance “embarrassing.”

Another reporter directly challenged Harris, asking whether he would criticize the U.S. government and whether he believes American democracy is in danger.

“Wow,” Harris replied, appearing taken aback by the question.

“I feel more the jester in the castle,” he continued. “So, while I have my own political opinions, which are my own, I think as a performer, especially in this kind of movie, it’s trying to be as inclusive as possible to as many people as possible.”

Harris emphasized that he did not view Sunny Dancer as a political project.

“I never read this script as a political statement,” he said, reiterating that in a fractured media environment, he prefers creative work that brings audiences together rather than deepens ideological divides.