Ian Somerhalder says he “pulled the plug” on Hollywood, citing a “controversial” reason and confirming he’s out

Ian Somerhalder said he “pulled the plug” on Hollywood, adding that he is “out,” in comments described as a “controversial” reason for stepping back from acting. The remarks were reported by Page Six in a story tied to Somerhalder’s appearance on the Haley on the Go podcast.

Page Six said Somerhalder has not acted since 2019, when he appeared in the Netflix series V Wars. The report positions the podcast comments as a retrospective explanation for a multi-year absence from scripted television.

According to Page Six, Somerhalder characterized his decision as having the effect of ending his involvement with Hollywood projects. He framed the choice in terms of personal withdrawal rather than a specific new credit, telling listeners that he is “out,” while describing the underlying rationale as “controversial.”

The outlet did not, in its description, specify the exact details of the “controversial” reason in the headline and summary that accompanied the report. As presented in the Page Six account, the emphasis is on Somerhalder’s account of opting out, not on any industry-wide policy dispute or court matter.

The timing matters because Somerhalder’s most recent acting work, as cited by Page Six, dates back to V Wars in 2019. Since then, his public profile has remained in the orbit of interviews and other media visibility rather than acting credits, with the podcast comments now providing a direct explanation for his hiatus.

For audiences tracking on-screen projects, the statement also raises questions about whether Somerhalder intends to return to scripted roles and what criteria he would use if he did. In the Page Six report, the key point is that he is describing a completed withdrawal phase, rather than announcing a new project.

As with most podcast statements, the comments as reported by Page Six are a first-person account, and the public record will depend on whether the actor, the podcast, or production partners provide additional context. The next step for viewers seeking specifics would be to review the podcast episode itself or subsequent statements clarifying what Somerhalder meant by the “controversial” factor behind his decision.