Danny Trejo is probably the most Mexican-looking* man on the planet. When you’re in the States and anyone says “Mexican,” an image of Danny Trejo is bound to materialize somewhere in the grey matter. So you can imagine my ire when I read the news about Trejo starring in what sounds to me to be an ICE propaganda movie.
Earlier this month, news broke that Trejo was working on a conservative film project attached to Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire.
Here is what’s verifiable:
Trejo was approached about working on a movie that is described by ABC News as:
Trejo’s son Gilbert has recently made a public statement about his father’s involvement on Pawn Shop, which included the following information:
He says his father did not know who Ben Shapiro was prior to signing onto the project.
Trejo did not know this was a pro-ICE movie before signing on.
Gilbert says his dad was presented with one version of the film and then it changed into what is now being described as a pro-ICE movie.
Gilbert says his father is now contractually obligated to finish working on the film.
He also says that his father has signed an NDA, and it’s not possible for him to speak freely about this current controversy.
Today, I learned that Trejo had previously done some voice acting on Mr. Birchum, an animated series produced by The Daily Wire and executive-produced by one Ben Shapiro.
Here is what I’m understanding so far about this mess (not verifiable but not completely unlikely to be true either):
I can see why a conservative, right-wing, pro-ICE group would want Danny Trejo in their movie, which glorifies ICE whilst ICE is enthusiastically violating constitutional and human rights daily. (Please see my first paragraph if you’re unsure of what I mean here.)
It’s plausible that Trejo was sold one version of the script and then it morphed into something else—something like pro-ICE propaganda.
The Daily Wire was involved with this thing from the start. I’m no investigative journalist, but that immediately made me suspicious of the project. Why wouldn’t it do the same for a seasoned actor?
Trejo has worked on a project linked to both Shapiro and The Daily Wire before. How did he work with them twice and stay ignorant as to who they were and what they were about?
Where the hell is this guy’s representation? Aren’t they supposed to look into possible conflicts of interest for the person they’re representing?
Is it possible Trejo was tricked into this? Yes. Is it possible he knew what he was getting into but did it anyway for the paycheck? Sadly, also yes. Am I going to take a beat before we draw and quarter him? Yes. That man makes up a big chunk of our tiny sliver of representation in movies. He does not get a pass; he gets a pause.
Ok I paused.
What does Gilbert Trejo mean when he says Danny agreed to do some voice acting for his friend Adam Carolla without realizing Carolla’s politics had changed?
Look, I’ve been a comedy fan—specifically stand-up—for my ENTIRE life. Carolla has always rubbed me the wrong way. He’s been this version of conservative since I can remember. And I don’t have the benefit of a personal relationship with him. So, he can say he used to be a Democrat all day, but what does that mean exactly when you’re a flaming conservative now?
Ultimately, the situation is suspect. There were too many opportunities for Danny Trejo and/or his representation to do some of their own investigating to ensure there were no conflicts of interest.
The grace I was trying to give Danny Trejo has been revoked. Ready the horses, raza!
*When I say Mexican I mean Mexican-American not Mexican National. Us Americans are rather liberal with our broad generalizations