Actor Danny Trejo is speaking out after facing backlash for his role in a movie produced by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.
"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," Trejo wrote in an Oct. 9 statement on his Instagram.
Trejo is starring in a movie produced in part by Shapiro's company The Daily Wire with the working title "Pawn Shop," the Montana Free Press and Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.
The movie, filmed in Livingston, Montana, is centered on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and members of the MS-13 gang, the outlets reported, citing copies of the script.
Many local residents protested the movie's filming after it began in late
September, prompting safety concerns that led city commissioners to temporarily suspend its filming permit in early October, according to meeting records.
Shapiro confirmed his involvement in the movie in an Oct. 6 YouTube video decrying the permit suspension, which was lifted after two days.
'My job is to tell a story'
Trejo did not directly address the film's plot in his statement. He later shared a link to a TMZ story mentioning Shapiro's connection to the movie.
"I know where I come from and I know our struggles. I am an actor. My job is to tell a story," Trejo added in his statement.
Trejo's son Gilbert Trejo said in a since-expired Instagram story that his father "has never heard of" Shapiro.
"About 2 weeks into shooting everyone, including us, found out Ben Shapiro was involved," Gilbert Trejo wrote in the post, The San Fernando Valley Sun and Variety reported.
Gilbert Trejo said his dad "contractually can't badmouth (Shapiro), the film, or walk away without being sued for breach of contract."
"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.' He jumped at the idea of playing a good guy," Gilbert Trejo added.
Ben Shapiro responds to film backlash
On Oct. 3, the Livingston City Commission held a special meeting to discuss road closures and safety concerns that had arisen during the movie's filming – namely the use of armed security guards – and impacted local businesses. According to city records, the movie was set to film from Sept. 22 to Oct 10.
The commission voted to temporarily suspend the production company's filming permit for two days as they sought a legal opinion from the city's attorney about the issues.
At a lengthy special meeting on Oct. 5, producers of the movie told the city commissioners that the filming had been repeatedly disrupted by protesters. The city's attorney, Jon Hesse, clarified that the content of the movie was not the basis for the permit's temporary suspension.
In an Oct. 6 YouTube video, Shapiro argued that the production issues arose from protesters, who he said disrupted filming "from the very first day."
"They're angry because the flick we have in production is about ICE arresting a criminal illegal immigrant and then what comes after," Shapiro said. "The film is awesome, but that's not the issue. The issue is that they tried to shut us down and they actually succeeded temporarily."
The city commission voted Oct. 5 to reinstate the film's permit and allow production to continue, given that the company would continue complying with regulations to allow local businesses to operate as usual.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Danny Trejo defends role in Ben Shapiro movie, says he is not pro-ICE
