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2w ago

Lilly Wachowski Condemns Right-Wing ‘Red Pill’ Co-Opting, Calls It Fascist

She framed the political mutation of the film’s symbolism as a fascist tactic that artists cannot control.

Image
Left: Hands with blue and red pills on dark background. Right: Lilly Wachowski and Caleb Hearon sitting in brown armchairs and speaking into handheld mics. Both are laughing with their legs crossed in front of them.
© Warner Bros.
The Matrix Morpheus

Overview

  • Lilly Wachowski reiterated her criticism on the So True with Caleb Hearon podcast, saying right-wing groups have twisted The Matrix’s symbolism.
  • She said "Right-wing ideology appropriates absolutely everything" and described the practice as "what fascism does."
  • Wachowski added that she has learned to "let go" of audience interpretations, accepting that viewers will read the work in their own ways.
  • The filmmakers have long said the trilogy was conceived as a trans allegory, with reported early plans for a gender-shifting character that were not realized.
  • The "red pill" language has been embraced by online conservative and men’s-rights communities; in 2020 she rebuked Ivanka Trump and Elon Musk for using it.