Did James Woods Leave Hollywood for Mel Gibson’s ‘Anti-Woke’ Studio?

Claim:

Actor James Woods left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s new “anti-woke” production studio.

Rating:

Labeled Satire

On July 8, 2024, the Facebook page “SpaceX Fanclub” posted a meme claiming actor James Woods 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We understand that satire can sometimes be mistaken for actual news or events, but we want to make it clear that we do not publish factual or accurate information.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.”

Previously, similar rumors about supposed “anti-woke” studios formed by Gibson and Mark Wahlberg, among others, were debunked. Most recently, rumors of actor Robert Downey Jr. joining Gibson’s production studio were found to be false.

Source: Esspots, Snopes