On Monday, when news broke of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's death by self-induced heroin, TruthRevolt Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro penned a column in National Review attacking Hollywood's "broken leftist culture" and drug permissiveness as one of the chief causes for his death.

Since the article's publication, Shapiro has taken flak from many on the left and some on the right. On Tuesday, he defended his position on The Independents with Fox Business. Shapiro began:

In terms of libertarianism, the point that I was making is that government intervention is not a solution to the drug war. In fact, I've come pretty heavily in favor of pot decriminalization. The point that I was making is Hollywood's fake libertarianism, in which, they say 'free drugs for everyone,' but no consequences and no cultural forces to stop the people from falling into these traps is going to create more people who are not only on drugs, but victimizing their families with drugs. The point of a cultural force is not a government solution, it is churches, social organizations, and people who surround you, keeping you on the straight and narrow.

Shortly after, Ben was asked to clarify his intention by saying Hollywood telegraphs a message of "free drugs for everyone" when a majority of Hollywood films are anti-drug. Shapiro rebutted with the example Wolf of Wall Street. The hosts countered that Wolf of Wall Street carries with it an anti-greed message. Shapiro responded:

Hollywood is perfectly fond of having people take the message away from Wolf of Wall Street that drug use is a consequence of Wall Street culture, but and they are perfectly not okay that drug use is a consequence of Hollywood culture. I'm not really even talking about the broader general culture, I'm talking about the people who live in Hollywood. Many personal assistants on sets are dedicated to getting drugs for the stars. I know people who work out here.

Kennedy fired back at Shapiro, saying that Hollywood does not endorse drug use by citing examples like Lindsey Lohan and Justin Bieber who are "mocked" and "vilified" while Robert Downey Jr. heaps praise for sobering up. Shapiro responded:

So you're saying people in Hollywood are anti-drug? When I talk about libertarianism, I'm not saying that they are statists, they absolutely are statists, except when it comes to drugs. You're not going to find heroin, coke, or ecstasy in the green room. If you go to a typical upper-crust Hollywood party, there is a good chance that one of the three will appear.

Shapiro was then asked if he believes that attacking Hollywood for destroying American culture is a fair argument, because the free-market dictates people will avoid movies that don't align with their values, thus driving the production companies out of business. Shapiro countered:

Now Hollywood is very liberal, and, yes, they do appeal to a market. Both can be true at the same time. Just because the market is skewed to the left doesn't mean they are not left. You're conflating two things: You're talking about what's in the Hollywood films and I'm talking about what's in the Hollywood culture. Both of my parents work in Hollywood. Most of my friends are in the Hollywood industry. The idea that Hollywood itself does not forward a permissiveness regard to Drug use, especially with members in the community in regards to drug use is asinine and untrue.