In early December 2024, an X post by the account TRUMP ARMY (archived) claimed that two Hollywood actors and filmmakers, Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood, were teaming up to launch a "non-woke" movie studio.
? BREAKING: Clint Eastwood and Denzel Washington Join Forces to Launch Non-Woke Movie Production Studio.
Do you support this?
Yes or No pic.twitter.com/GEFlJVFwam— TRUMP ARMY (@TRUMP_ARMY_) December 3, 2024
The X post has amassed almost 68,000 views as of this writing. People replying to it seem to support the alleged news. One X user wrote: "Yes. Netflix and all the other platforms have gone downhill. Tired of seeing trans and gays in every story line," while another responded: "Hard to find any new movies watchable, hope this movie production studio makes good movies!"
The rumor about Eastwood and Washington has circulated for months. In May 2024, the X account Save America issued a post with the claim (archived) that has garnered more than 294,000 views as of this writing. Likewise, a Facebook post by The Patriots Network around the same time asserted the following:
Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood have joined forces to establish a new film production studio that promises to deliver bold, unfiltered storytelling. This unique partnership brings together two cinematic legends who share a vision for creating films that challenge the status quo and present compelling narratives without bending to industry trends.
The Patriots Network's Facebook post linked to an April, 14, 2024, story on SpaceXMania. That article claimed:
In an era dominated by divisive rhetoric and polarizing narratives, Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood's venture represents a beacon of hope for those seeking authentic and inclusive storytelling. Their un-woke film production studio promises to usher in a new era of filmmaking that celebrates diversity of thought and captures the essence of the American spirit.
However, this story proved to be untrue. It was not a factual recount of real-life events. No reputable media outlets or websites have reported on the alleged news about Washington and Eastwood creating a "non-woke" movie studio.
The image accompanying the Facebook post by The Patriots Network includes a "Rated Satire" stamp in the top right corner, while the account's "Intro" section lists it as a part of "a Network of Satire and Parody affiliated with SpacexMania.com."
SpaceXMania describes its output as satirical in nature, both on its "About Us" page and as a label above its articles.
Another website within SpaceXMania's network of parody and satire pages and social media accounts — Esspots — published the fictional story about Washington and Eastwood on April 12, 2024, two days before SpaceXMania published its version.
In Esspots' "About Us" section, the website describes itself as a "Subsidiary of SpaceXMania.com specializing in Satire and Parody News," and "your one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary about the United States of America. Our team of writers and editors is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity, all with a healthy dose of humor and satire."
This is not the first time we've fact-checked rumors stemming from this network of parody accounts. For instance, Snopes addressed the satirical claims that the NFL supposedly banned singer Taylor Swift from attending games because she's "too distracting" and Elon Musk allegedly invested $1 billion into an "un-woke" production company run by actors Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.