Danny Trejo’s son has defended the actor amid backlash over his role in Pawn Shop, a forthcoming film produced by conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire.
Trejo, 82, is set to play the owner of a pawn shop in the film, which has been criticised by opponents who have described it as allegedly pro-ICE.
The story follows a young federal agent who seeks refuge in a Minneapolis neighbourhood pawn shop after his partner is seriously injured. There, he becomes trapped with a traditional Hispanic father and his progressive college-age son as the three men confront their differences during a crisis.
Danny Trejo’s son responds to the backlash
Gilbert Trejo said his father had not realised Shapiro was involved when he accepted the part, alleging that the actor had been misled about the project.
“For anyone seeing this s*** with my dad…,” he wrote on Instagram. “He was booked on a film, it’s not pro-ice, it’s not overtly pro anything. His agent described it as ‘a complicated story about a complicated time, where everyone looks bad except you, the hardworking Mexican shop owner who just wants peace.’”
Gilbert said his father had been attracted to the opportunity to play “a good guy”. He added: “About 2 weeks into shooting everyone, including us, found out Ben Shapiro was involved. My 82-year-old dad has never heard of Ben Shapiro, I had to explain to him who that is, and what kind of guy he is.”
He claimed Trejo was contractually unable to criticise Shapiro or the film, or leave the production without facing a breach-of-contract lawsuit. Gilbert also said the statement released by his father was not the one Trejo had wanted to issue.
“It’s f***ed up. He’s handcuffed to this stupid project, and swaths of people have instantly turned their back on him without knowing any of the facts,” Gilbert wrote. “Ben Shapiro got Mexicans to abandon one of their heroes, got his own name to the top of google’s searches, and made us look like angry fools lacking any nuance. He wins.”
Trejo has also responded on social media to negative comments about his casting, although the content of his statement was not included.
Production of Pawn Shop has faced criticism since filming began in Montana, with local protesters attending the set. Earlier this month, work was temporarily halted before resuming under a revised film permit.
Shapiro condemned the suspension at the time, calling it a “violation of the First Amendment” and describing the film’s critics as “censorious jacka**es” who opposed free speech.
