Danny Trejo’s son accuses Ben Shapiro of tricking him into movie with promise of playing ‘good guy’, claims ‘My dad contractually can’t bad mouth him’

Fans of Danny Trejo got an unpleasant surprise when it was revealed that the legendary Mexican actor would be starring in Pawn Shop, a new movie co-produced by Ben Shapiro’s conservative media company.

The movie is reportedly pro-ICE, and has already attracted controversy and local protest after appearing to re-enact the killing of Renee Good. The Guardian says the overall story follows a heroic ICE agent trying to escape an angry mob that wants to free an immigrant he has detained.

Trejo has previously made clear his solidarity with Mexican American and immigrant communities and in November 2025 said that families affected by ICE raids should “keep up hope.” As such, his starring in a pro-ICE movie has seen his fans (per LA Times) dub him a “sellout” and a “traitor.”

“I am also obviously pro-immigrant. I am not pro ICE”

Trejo himself has hit back against these accusations, releasing a statement saying (per LA Times): “I want to address some social media comments about me. Make no mistake. 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. I know where I come from and I know our struggles. I am an actor. My job is to tell a story.”

However, Trejo’s son, Gilbert Trejo, has now alleged that his father was cast in this movie on what sounds like false pretences and is now contractually unable to say what he really thinks. In an Instagram story, Gilbert said his father had been misled by his agent, who’d pitched the movie as “a complicated story about a complicated time, where everyone looks bad except you, the hardworking Mexican shop owner who just wants peace.” This apparently appealed to Trejo, who reportedly liked the idea of playing a “good guy.”

Gilbert said his 82-year-old father “has never heard of Ben Shapiro” and needed his politics and positions explained to him. More disturbingly, the terms of the contract apparently mean Trejo can’t even directly criticize Shapiro or the film, or quit without risking a lawsuit for breach of contract. Even the statement quoted above is apparently not what he really wanted to say.

As Gilbert concludes: “Ben Shapiro got Mexicans to abandon one of their heroes, got his own name to the top of google’s searches, and made us look like angry fools lacking any nuance. He wins.” Production on Pawn Shop is reportedly coming to an end, though it seems unlikely that the controversy surrounding it is going to disappear anytime soon.