Only if you believe the messages are equivalent. Or there's some moral imperative that entertainers remain silent. I disagree with both. Let them state their opinions. If anyone's to blame, it's the media, for placing a disproportionate focus on them.
It's silly to dismiss anyone's opinion based solely on job description. And a bit ironic that we internet bloviators might demand such a rule. Most opinions emanating from H'wood can easily be shred on their merits. Awful good fun, too.
I think the applause you see is more a sigh of relief - a bit of thanks that there is some diversity of opinion in that industry. People are starving for entertainers they can patronize without needing to vomit afterwards.
As usual, James Lileks sums it up best:
"I’m not tired of actors speaking out; I will never tire of actors speaking out, because it provides the same amusement of watching dogs walk on their hind legs. The sight itself is hilarious, and it always ends with the performer falling over."
They are equivalent in their unimportance beyond being one person's opinion. That people say, "I'm on the right side of this issue because I agree with Actor X", or, "Actor X agrees with our position so we must be on the right side", are attempts to add weight where there are only feathers. The media wouldn't be selling it if people weren't buying it.