Peaky Blinders Denounces Ron DeSantis’ Homophobic Campaign Video
The team behind the acclaimed British crime drama “Peaky Blinders” has publicly condemned a homophobic campaign video shared by Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign. The video, which utilized footage of Cillian Murphy’s character from the show, was utilized without permission or an official license.
In the video, posted on DeSantis’ campaign Twitter account, he criticizes his rival presidential candidate Donald Trump for his support of LGBTQ rights. The video specifically mocks Trump’s stance on issues such as transgender rights and bathroom choice. Additionally, the video includes a clip of openly queer rapper Tyler, the Creator, before praising DeSantis’ legislative actions against the LGBTQ community.
Amongst the various images and headlines in the video, one frame depicts DeSantis wearing sunglasses, flanked by a male bodybuilder and a clip of Christian Bale from “American Psycho.” The headline above reads: “DeSantis Signs ‘Most Extreme Slate of Anti-Trans Laws in Modern History.'” Furthermore, the video includes two clips featuring Cillian Murphy’s character from “Peaky Blinders,” along with other distressing visuals.
In a joint statement, Cillian Murphy, “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions, and Banijay Rights expressed their disapproval, stating that they do not support or endorse the video’s narrative, nor the unauthorized use of their content.
— Peaky Blinders (@ThePeakyBlinder) July 5, 2023
As of now, representatives for Ron DeSantis have not responded to Variety’s request for comment.
This incident is not the first time DeSantis has clashed with Hollywood. Previously, he engaged in a legal battle with Disney over its governing rights for the 25,000-acre site of its Orlando amusement parks. Disney CEO Bob Iger referred to DeSantis’ actions as retaliatory, related to the company’s opposition to the Florida governor’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2022.