Producers of hit show Peaky Blinders have distanced themselves from what appeared to be an anti-LGBT campaign ad by Ron DeSantis, claiming the footage was used without permission.
The “undeniably homophobic” ad attempted to convey a sense of masculinity by using the show’s main character, Tommy Shelby, and attributing it to DeSantis.
In a statement released Wednesday, the “partners of Peaky Blinders” — including lead actor Cillian Murphy — not only pointed out that the material was used without a license, but also condemned DeSantis’ message.
The video used Murphy’s character Tommy Shelby and was uploaded to Twitter at the end of Pride month on June 30 via a DeSantis campaign Twitter page.
It was largely intended to smear Donald Trump as pro-LGBT in order to win over conservative voters ahead of the Republican primary, in which the two are expected to go head-to-head.
Producers of hit show Peaky Blinders have distanced themselves from an anti-LGBT campaign ad by Ron DeSantis, claiming the footage was used without permission
The controversial DeSantis ad was posted on Twitter at the end of Pride month on June 30 and attempted to portray Donald Trump as LGBT-friendly and DeSantis as macho by using imagery of Peaky Blinders
The video’s title dubbed Trump “the politician who has done more to celebrate Pride than any other Republican” and began with a compilation of various clips in which the former president expressed his solidarity with the LGBT community.
About halfway through the one-minute video, the screen shows the tone changes and various aggressive actions DeSantis has taken against LGBT people.
The headlines detail how DeSantis signed the “most extreme list of anti-trans laws in modern history,” banning a drag show at a school and forcing the cancellation of a pride show.
Then, thumping music kicks in and imagery of DeSantis interweaves with various stoic and quintessentially masculine pop culture figures – including Tommy Shelby of Peaky Blinders and Brad Pitt as he appeared in the film Troy.
A clip of Shelby shows him smoking a cigarette and standing menacingly, in what is believed to be an attempt to attribute strong masculinity to DeSanti.
The video received very poor reception on Twitter. One person, who described himself as a “conservative Democrat,” posted in response to the ad, “Well you ‘had’ my vote – not anymore.”
Another person joked, “Is Ron Desantis running for Iran’s president?” Presumably referring to the extremely tough stance he took against homosexuality and transgenderism.
The ad used images of the show’s main character, Tommy Shelby, to convey a sense of masculinity
A clip of Shelby shows him smoking a cigarette and standing menacingly, in what is believed to be an attempt to attribute strong masculinity to DeSanti
“This is the worst video I have ever seen in my life and whoever is responsible for this should be fired immediately,” wrote another.
The video also interspersed clips of a smiling DeSantis with images of Christian Bale in “American Psycho” and references to “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
The video comes at a time when DeSantis’ poll numbers remain stubbornly low and Trump is clearly ahead among primary voters.
A YouGov poll for The Economist conducted June 24-27 found Trump has a 27-point lead over Florida’s governor.
Trump was at 52 percent and DeSantis at 25 percent.
On Friday, Trump and DeSantis were both in Philadelphia trying to outflank each other on the right.
Trump told the crowd at the Moms for Liberty group that he would “abolish all diversity, equality and inclusion programs across the federal government.”
DeSantis pledged to implement its Florida guidelines on LGBTQ discussions in schools and restrooms at the federal level.
“What we have seen across the country in recent years has awakened the most powerful political force in this country: mama bears,” he told hundreds of people to thunderous applause.
“We’ve done so much on these issues in Florida, and I will do all of that as the next president.”
DeSantis recently vowed to implement its Florida guidelines on LGBTQ discussions in schools and restrooms at the federal level. He is pictured speaking at the Moms for Liberty gathering in Philadelphia on Friday
Trump-DeSantis Republican Primary Poll by YouGov for The Economist, Aug. 24-27 June
Alexis Spiegelman, leader of the Moms for Liberty group in Sarasota, Fla., told the New York Times, “I just don’t know why we want a fake when we have the real, authentic Trump.”
DeSantis’ strategy of positioning himself to Trump’s right has also been questioned by Republican strategists.
“The advisors who think this kind of ‘running to Trump’s right’ will be effective should be fired,” said Sarah Longwell, CEO of conservative Longwell Partners.
Andrew Clark, a Republican strategist who worked on Trump’s 2020 campaign, said it was a poor campaign approach for DeSantis to present himself as someone who will take back LGBTQ rights.