Fact Check: James Woods Supposedly Left Hollywood to Join Mel Gibson's 'Anti-Woke' Studio. Here Are the Facts
Claim:
Actor James Woods left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s new “anti-woke” production studio.
Rating:
On July 8, 2024, the Facebook page "SpaceX Fanclub" posted a meme claiming actor James Wood had quit Hollywood to join fellow actor Mel Gibson's new "anti-woke" production studio. The post linked to a May 2024 article on Esspots.com, its affiliated website.
(Facebook user "SpaceX Fanclub")
The article began:
In a move that has reverberated throughout the entertainment industry, veteran actor James Woods has officially left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson's newly established non-woke film studio. This partnership marks a significant shift for Woods, who has long been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken conservative beliefs in a predominantly liberal industry.
James Woods, known for his sharp intelligence and often controversial political stances, has increasingly felt alienated by the mainstream Hollywood culture, which he perceives as overly politically correct and restrictive. Over the years, Woods' career has been marked by a series of confrontations and disagreements with other figures in the industry, leading to a gradual reduction in his appearances in mainstream films.
His decision to join Mel Gibson's studio is not just a career move but a statement. Gibson, who has faced his own share of controversy in Hollywood, announced the creation of this new studio last year, promising a space for creative freedom devoid of what he calls the "censorship" of modern woke culture. The studio aims to produce films that embrace traditional storytelling without succumbing to contemporary political pressures.
However, the claim was not real and came from sources that were satirical in nature. The Facebook post also came with a "satire" label, while its affiliated website, Esspots, described itself as specializing in satire.
Per Esspots' "Disclaimer" page:
Before you proceed to read our content, we would like to emphasize that nothing on this website is real. All of the articles, stories, and commentary found on Esspots.com are entirely fictitious and created for the purpose of entertainment only.
We understand that satire can sometimes be mistaken for actual news or events, but we want to make it clear that we do not publish factual or accurate information. We do not intend to deceive or mislead our readers in any way, and all of our content should be taken with a grain of salt.
Furthermore, SpaceX Fanclub, the Facebook account that authored the viral post, had a similar disclaimer on its page: "We post SATIRE, nothing on this page is real."
We previously debunked other rumors about supposed "anti-woke" studios formed by Gibson and Mark Wahlberg, among others. Most recently, we also found rumors of actor Robert Downey Jr. joining Gibson's production studio to be false.
For background, here is why we sometimes write about satire/humor.
Sources:
"Disclaimer." Esspots, https://esspots.com/disclaimer/. Accessed 18 July 2024.
Dobrin, Nikki. "Robert Downey Jr. Joins Mel Gibson's 'Anti-Woke Movie Production Studio'?" Snopes, 11 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/robert-downey-jr-mel-gibson/." target="blank">https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/robert-downey-jr-mel-gibson/.">https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/robert-downey-jr-mel-gibson/. Accessed 18 July 2024.
Rascou?t-Paz, Anna. "Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson Are Launching 'Non-Woke' Film Studio?" Snopes, 4 Apr. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/gibson-wahlberg-non-woke-production/." target="blank">https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/gibson-wahlberg-non-woke-production/.">https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/gibson-wahlberg-non-woke-production/. Accessed 18 July 2024.
Robin, Alex. "Breaking: James Woods Leaves Hollywood To Join Mel Gibson's New Non-Woke Film Studio." Esspots, 6 May 2024, https://esspots.com/breaking-james-woods-leaves-hollywood-to-join-mel-gibsons-new-non-woke-film-studio144/." target="blank">https://esspots.com/breaking-james-woods-leaves-hollywood-to-join-mel-gibsons-new-non-woke-film-studio144/.">https://esspots.com/breaking-james-woods-leaves-hollywood-to-join-mel-gibsons-new-non-woke-film-studio144/. Accessed 18 July 2024.
