'Sound of Freedom' Producer Threatens LGBTQ+ Community in Video

Eduardo Verástegui, one of Sound of Freedom's producers, has shared footage of himself engaging in target practice as he suggested it represented the actions he would take against members of the LGBTQ+ community, among others.

The actor and singer, who has officially filed the paperwork to run as an independent candidate for Mexico's 2024 presidential race, shared the video footage and accompanying caption on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.

Dressed in a black ensemble, Verástegui is seen aiming a firearm at a target while standing outdoors in a walled space. The 12-second footage showed him firing several rounds.

While Verástegui did not speak in the footage, the 49-year-old's choice of words in his accompanying caption captured the attention of social media users.

"Look at what we are going to do to the terrorists of the 2030 agenda, climate change and gender ideology," read the caption, which was written in Spanish. "I'm reading you [your comments]."

The video, which has been viewed more than 4 million times, sparked a mixed response from X users, many of whom mocked the tactics and messaging.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the producer of Sound of Freedom (and now running for the presidency of Mexico) openly fantasizing about murdering feminists, LGBTIQ activists and environmentalists," read one comment on the platform.

"We are now ready to reeducate the damn homosexuals in the Catholic faith. And bring to their knees the females who don't know their place," another quipped in a tongue-in-cheek response. "Long live Christ the King, damn it!"

In reference to Verástegui's stance on abortion, one detractor wrote: "You don't kill unborn babies but you do kill those who are alive?"

"I don't know if this man is campaigning for the USA or Mexico?" commented another. "That seems like a typical Republican propaganda cliché, something that doesn't work in Mexico."

Referencing Verástegui's singing career, another said: "At least you didn't opt ​​for the violent alternative: making them listen to your albums with Cairo."

Amid the flood of negative responses, some supported Verástegui's stance, with one saying that the post would attract the attention of "angry liberals and pseudo conservatives in 3,2,1..."

Responding to another detractor who had called the video a "campaign error," they wrote: "But what campaign error? It's not even a campaign. He only uploaded a video that he had previously uploaded."

Newsweek has contacted representatives of Verástegui via email for comment.

If approved as a candidate, Verástegui will run on a platform of "God, Fatherland and Family," and he told Newsweek in September that he wants to use the momentum from his successful film to enter the world of politics because his "goal is to put an end to child trafficking" once and for all.

Sound of Freedom, which was released on the Fourth of July, follows the story of U.S. Homeland Security officer Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel), who left his government job to form Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), an anti-child-trafficking organization.

"The most important thing from this film is that we need to leave behind a permanent legacy and change legislation to ensure countries cooperate better in ending child trafficking," he told Newsweek from Vatican City after having a private audience with Pope Francis where he asked the Pontiff to bless his film.

Last month, Verástegui headed to Mexico's National Electoral Institute (NEI) to file his interest to run as an independent candidate and now needs 1 million signatures endorsing his candidacy to be approved by the NEI as an official candidate.

"Mexico is not doing well, there's more poverty, more security issues, more crime, just more and more bad things... it really broke my heart," said Verástegui, who added that after becoming famous at home, more people started inviting him "to put together an independent movement and run for president."

"I was not raised to be a politician but people said, 'That's why we should do it, people are tired of political powers,'" he said "They don't believe in politicians and they don't believe in these false promises."

Verástegui went on: "If you really want to do something for your country, you need to have the army, the police, the funds, the intelligence, the technology, and you only have those if you become president."

He has from September 15 to January 6 to raise the signatures ahead of the June elections and promises if he wins office, "I'm willing to do anything for my country."

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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