Hugh Jackman is beloved by all. Obviously, he’s best known for playing Wolverine across many Marvel movies, but he’s also a talented performer on stage and in musicals. But now, with one questionable decision, he may have flushed all that goodwill down the toilet.
Variety reports that Hugh Jackman made a personal appearance at billionaire tyrant Rupert Murdoch’s 95th birthday party, entertaining the media world’s most prominent Lich King with an array of showtunes.
Murdoch and his ghoulish crew got a rare personalized set from Jackman at New York’s The Grill, where he ran through a selection of tunes from The Great Showman, as well as ‘Fly Me to the Moon’, ‘New York, New York’, and ‘I Still Call Australia Home’.
The night also boasted a personalized video message from Donald Trump himself, praising Murdoch as “legendary” and “one of a kind”, saying that his “courage, vision, and determination” have “changed the world”. Well, I guess it has. For the worse!
Isn’t Trump supposed to be suing Murdoch for $20 billion? Well, Ivanka Trump was among the guests who got to enjoy Jackman’s performance, so things can’t be all that bad between them.
Claws out for Jackman
So, why would Jackman detonate a bomb under his reputation to do this? Responses online are generally surprise and disgust that he’d play court jester to Murdoch:
Girl, WHAT THE F*CK? pic.twitter.com/n8wliH45DR
— J W (@stupid8911) March 10, 2026
— Bill Bob (Unhappily Married to a Latina) (@BillBobHuckers) March 10, 2026
Which one? We don’t want either of them. I speak on behalf of all Australian women. We had a meeting.
— Soula Papadopoulos (@soulapapadopo) March 10, 2026
However, this isn’t a one-off. Murdoch and Jackman have actually been acquaintances for over 20 years, with their children close friends. Jackman is even godfather to Murdoch’s two youngest daughters. Maybe they just get along because they’re both Aussies in America?
Jackman has also defended Murdoch on multiple occasions, particularly during the 2011 News of the World phone-hacking scandal. He’s praised Murdoch as a “caring,” “thoughtful,” “generous,” and “loyal” family man who values long-term relationships and looks after those close to him.
Whenever Rupert is going through tough times Jackman is always ready with a sympathetic comment, though naturally keeps his lips sealed on whatever victims are involved and political issues.
Whatever the case, Jackman cozying up to one of the most objectively poisonous people the 20th century squirted out says quite a lot about his ethical standards.
Published: Mar 10, 2026 06:14 am