‘Peaky Blinders’ Rips DeSantis For Unauthorized Use Of Footage In Homophobic Ad

The production team behind the popular “Peaky Blinders” television show is attempting to distance itself from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) presidential campaign after the candidate used clips from the hit drama without permission in a video ad published last month.

The bizarre ad begins by attacking former President Trump for pledging to support LGBTQ people in 2016 (despite never making good on his promises) before cutting to DeSantis basking in headlines of anti-LGBTQ+ policies he has enacted during his time as the governor of the state of Florida.

Ron DeSantis' campaign has quietly deleted its vile, homophobic campaign ad after receiving almost universal condemnations for it. pic.twitter.com/vaDjjRHVNZ

— TheGailyGrind 🏳️‍🌈 (@thegailygrind) July 7, 2023

The ad also splices in clips of various television programs and films, including Patrick Bateman from American Psycho (played by Christian Bale), Achilles from Troy (played by Brad Pitt), and Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders (played by Cillian Murphy).

Also featured are a set of photoshopped “Chad” stock photos of ultra-buff, hyper-masculine men, popular in right-wing online circles to represent agreeable viewpoints.

The “Peaky Blinders” production team denounced DeSantis’s messaging in a tweet on Wednesday.

“We confirm the footage of Tommy Shelby’s character used with the video posted by Ron DeSantis’ campaign was obtained without permission of official license,” the statement reads. “We do not support nor endorse the video’s narrative and strongly disapprove of the use of the content in this manner.”

pic.twitter.com/o33HL2zMes

— Peaky Blinders (@ThePeakyBlinder) July 5, 2023