Renowned Mexican-American actor Danny Trejo has officially responded to intense online criticism regarding his casting in the upcoming film Pawn Shop. The production, co-produced by conservative media company the Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend, has drawn widespread public attention and local controversy since filming began in Livingston, Montana.
Facing accusations from online critics labeling him a “sellout” and a “traitor,” the 82-year-old actor issued a clear statement to explain his personal stance and his motivation for taking the role.
“I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community,” Trejo stated. “I am also obviously pro-immigrant. I am not pro-ICE. I know where I come from and I know our struggles. I am an actor. My job is to tell a story.”
The Controversy Surrounding ‘Pawn Shop’
The backlash began shortly after details surrounding Pawn Shop leaked online. According to reports from outlets like The Bulwark and Variety, the film’s script depicts Minneapolis immigration enforcement and anti-ICE protests through a pro-ICE lens, reportedly featuring a scene that parallels the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
The logline for the movie details a plot where a young ICE officer, after his partner is killed during a Minneapolis riot, takes shelter inside a neighborhood pawn shop operated by a hard-edged Hispanic veteran alongside his progressive grandson.
Sources close to the production noted that Trejo was initially drawn to the project because of its positive portrayal of a Latino pawnshop owner who is also a military veteran. The film features a star-studded cast alongside Trejo, including industry veterans Harvey Keitel and Henry Thomas.
Production Hurdles and Local Protests in Montana
The controversy has not been limited to social media. In late September and early October, production in Livingston, Montana, faced major disruptions when local residents raised serious concerns regarding hazardous stunt warnings, road closures, and negative impacts on the local food pantry.
On October 3, the Livingston City Commission temporarily suspended the film’s permits following heavy public outcry. Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro slammed the temporary shutdown as “content discrimination” and a violation of the First Amendment.
Following a nearly seven-hour public meeting, the Livingston City Commission voted to reinstate the filming permit on October 5, instituting strict conditions regarding neighborhood notification, security measures, and food pantry access. Filming subsequently resumed on October 6.
Trejo’s Longstanding Community Advocacy
Despite the current friction, Trejo has a long history of public support for marginalized communities. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, he participated in the #AyudaEnEspanol campaign, which distributed crucial health and resource kits in Spanish to migrant farmworkers across the United States. In late 2025, Trejo publicly urged solidarity and empathy for families impacted by immigration enforcement raids.
Neither Trejo nor his representatives have indicated any plans to step away from the project. The actor emphasized that his participation in a fictional narrative does not equate to an endorsement of the political ideologies depicted within the storyline.
