Crew on Ben Shapiro’s Pro-ICE Film Say They Felt Ambushed

Key Points:

• Several crew members working on Ben Shapiro’s pro-ICE film Pawn Shop left early after being misled about the film’s political content, initially told it was a “fun action movie” without disclosure of its conservative, pro-ICE messaging.
• An anonymous crew member and local activist Brooklyn Wilde reported that about a dozen crew departures occurred once the film’s political slant was revealed, with claims that crew were “explicitly lied to” about the project.
• Pawn Shop, produced by The Daily Wire and starring Danny Trejo and Harvey Keitel, features a politically charged storyline involving ICE agents and a controversial scene resembling the real-life killing of Renée Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
• Public backlash led to a temporary halt of filming in Livingston, Montana, due to concerns over disruptions and permit violations, but production resumed after permits were reissued; Shapiro criticized the stoppage as politically motivated.
• The anonymous crew member emphasized the importance of transparency about a film’s content so workers can make informed decisions about participation, criticizing the production for withholding details about its political nature.