For years, Hollywood has been criticized for shutting out conservative perspectives. Now, one publicist is changing that. Vanessa Santos, who started Renegade PR, has created a small agency specifically to support and promote people with those viewpoints, which larger publicity firms often ignore.
She represents a number of well-known figures who hold conservative views or have sparked political debate, including Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Drea de Matteo, Roseanne Barr, Riley Gaines, and Tim Pool.
According to a recent interview with Variety, George Santos stated that since Donald Trump entered politics in 2016, Hollywood and most major media outlets have largely dismissed or disrespected supporters of the MAGA movement.
From Publishing to Political PR
I was really impressed when, in 2021, after seeing so many conservatives unfairly cancelled and attacked online, Santos bravely left her job in publishing. She decided to take matters into her own hands and started Renegade PR right in Washington, D.C. – it took real courage, and I admired her for it.
“I knew that Trump was going to win, and so I knew that business was going to bang,” she said.
She explains her approach to business using a quote from Michael Jordan. When questioned about avoiding political statements, Jordan famously said, “Republicans buy sneakers too,” meaning he didn’t want to alienate any potential customers.
Santos mentioned the quote ‘Republicans buy sneakers too’ has stuck with him, emphasizing that you can’t ignore or exclude such a large group of people.
The 2024 election significantly changed the entertainment industry, and Santos’s small firm was well-placed to benefit. With Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and growing support from major tech CEOs like Larry Ellison, Tim Cook, and Jeff Bezos, Hollywood executives started reconsidering how to appeal to conservative viewers.
“Lean In, Don’t Hide”: The Drea de Matteo Story
One of George Santos’s most notable supporters is Drea de Matteo, the actress known for her role in *The Sopranos*. A longtime Democrat, she lost her agent after speaking out against vaccine requirements during the pandemic lockdowns.
Honestly, after feeling totally left out in the cold, De Matteo started looking for a publicist – she basically thought her career was circling the drain and needed help! That’s when she connected with Santos, and things started to look up.
De Matteo remembers Vanessa as incredibly driven and persistent. She traveled to see him and relentlessly pursued the opportunity, which ultimately led to a major turning point in his life. He realized she was so determined, he decided to let her take the lead, and it had a profound impact on him.
With encouragement from Santos, de Matteo stopped backing down and started confidently sharing her beliefs. She appeared on the shows *Jesse Watters Primetime* and *Club Random* with Bill Maher before the 2024 election.
Breaking the Hollywood Echo Chamber
Originally from Michigan and a lifelong Republican, Santos says she was raised watching Hannity & Colmes and respected commentators who questioned conventional liberal viewpoints.
I’ve become a huge fan of Scott Jennings, honestly. I was really glad to see CNN bringing more conservative perspectives onto Abby Phillip’s show. It’s just… I’m so fed up with everyone only hearing opinions that already match their own. We all need to break out of those echo chambers!
Santos believes having conservative voices is not only about fairness, but also makes economic sense. She points to the surprising success of Matt Walsh’s 2024 documentary, *Am I Racist?*, which became the year’s top-earning documentary even without much attention from major media outlets.
She also felt that A24’s film *Eddington*, a dark comedy that satirizes lockdowns and political protests, wasn’t marketed as well as it could have been – a lost chance for the studio.
She felt they missed opportunities by not appearing on podcasts like Joe Rogan and Tim Pool. She also suggested a collaboration between Austin Butler and Russell Brand would have been good, noting a general reluctance to take risks.
Redefining “Risky” Clients
Santos’s approach is changing how entertainment publicity works, questioning the common belief that being politically conservative can harm a celebrity’s image.
She explained that she hopes to create a space where people can discuss politics openly, without worrying about facing backlash or being ostracized. She believes many people are afraid to express their views, fearing they’ll lose support from those they rely on, and she thinks that’s unacceptable.
Vanessa Santos, a publicist known for representing conservative figures that many in her industry avoid, started her own firm, Renegade PR, because she was frustrated with how Hollywood treats people with right-leaning views.
“I knew that Trump was going to win, and so I knew that business was going to…
— Variety (@Variety) October 9, 2025
She’s not the only one who’s noticed this opportunity. *Variety* reports that Mitchell Jackson, a New York publicist who works with figures like Candace Owens and Brett Cooper, is one of the few in the industry handling clients who generate similar controversy.
Renegade PR is notable for combining strong, proactive communication with plans to handle difficult situations, which is particularly valuable now that potential problems extend beyond just social media.
In an Age of Fear, A Loyal Ally
Shortly after Santos spoke with *Variety* magazine, a shocking act of political violence occurred: conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed. Although Santos hadn’t directly worked for Kirk, they had collaborated on projects, and this event highlighted the dangerous climate facing public figures from all political viewpoints.
Meghan McCain, who used to be a co-host on The View, complimented Santos’s understanding and professional demeanor. McCain explained that it’s a relief to talk to someone who understands her concerns about safety at public events without needing to provide a lot of explanation. She appreciated not having to constantly explain the potential for encountering problematic people, finding it ‘wonderful’ to have that shared understanding.
The Bottom Line
Vanessa Santos’s success highlights a change in the entertainment industry: more and more people are realizing that conservative viewers make up a significant portion of the population – nearly half of the country.
With changes in the political landscape of 2025, Santos and Renegade PR are offering both stability and a heads-up about potential challenges for studios, streaming services, and agencies.
No matter how Hollywood views her impact – as someone shaking things up or simply fixing what’s broken – her point remains the same: when it comes to stories, and in America as a whole, everyone is just trying to get by, just like everyone wears shoes.
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2025-10-11 14:59