The creators of “Peaky Blinders” publicly denounced a homophobic video shared by Ron DeSantis’ campaign. They expressed disapproval of the campaign’s unauthorized use of show footage, emphasizing the lack of permission or an official license. The video, which contains homophobic content and features footage of Cillian Murphy’s character from the show, was released without proper authorization or an official license.
The video, disseminated on Twitter through DeSantis’ campaign, critiques Donald Trump, a fellow candidate for the 2024 presidential race, for his advocacy of LGBTQ rights. It derisively portrays Trump’s stance on Caitlyn Jenner’s bathroom preferences and his inclusion of transgender women in his Miss Universe pageants.
The video features DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, wearing sunglasses, with the caption: “DeSantis Enacts ‘Unprecedented Anti-Trans Laws.’” It includes clips of Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby from “Peaky Blinders,” along with striking visuals of shirtless men and captivating headlines.
In a collective statement, Cillian Murphy, “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions, and Banijay Rights expressed their objection to the video’s storyline and the unpermitted usage of the show’s content.
Governor DeSantis has clashed with Hollywood before, specifically in a legal battle with Disney. He revoked the company’s self-governance over its 25,000-acre Orlando amusement park site. Disney CEO Bob Iger accused DeSantis of retaliating against the company for opposing his controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2022.
DeSantis has a track record of confrontations with the Hollywood industry. A significant case involves his involvement in a legal feud with Disney, where he rescinded the company’s autonomy to independently govern its expansive 25,000-acre property in Orlando.
