Danny Trejo is speaking out after catching major heat for his latest gig. The “Spy Kids” legend is starring in “Pawn Shop,” a flick from Ben Shapiro’s production company, The Daily Wire, and the internet is lowkey spiraling over the project’s reported pro-ICE narrative.
Real talk: Trejo wants everyone to know he isn’t about that life. “I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community. I am also obviously pro-immigrant. I am not pro-ICE,” he told TMZ.
So, why did he sign on? Sources say Trejo was drawn to the role because it features a positive portrayal of a Latino veteran. He noted, “My job is to tell a story.”
The film’s production has been messy, to say the least. It was temporarily shut down in Livingston, Montana, last Saturday after locals pushed back against the crew for impacting a food bank and failing to properly warn the neighborhood about dangerous stunts. Ben Shapiro didn't hold back, calling the shutdown “content discrimination” and a “violation of the First Amendment.”
“Pawn Shop” centers on an ICE officer trapped in a pawn shop with a Hispanic veteran (Trejo) and his progressive grandson while a mob hunts them. TMZ also captured video appearing to show a scene that recreates the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. The film also stars Harvey Keitel.
Why it matters
Artists often get caught in the middle when their projects intersect with sensitive political topics. Trejo’s defense highlights the thin line actors walk between just doing their jobs and being associated with the ideologies behind their production studios.
