'The Matrix' Director Blasts Elon Musk and Ivanka Trump For 'Red Pill' Reference
One scene from the movie is a favorite amongst right-wing groups.
Lilly and Lana Wachowski's magnum opus The Matrixis one of modern film's classics. The film is so ubiquitous, one scene has become the go-to metaphor for political awakening.
In the scene, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) offers the main character Neo a choice between a red and blue pill after discovering the Matrix. "After this, there is no turning back," Morpheus says. "You take the blue pill--the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill--you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more."
Many right-wing circles use this scene to encourage misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic beliefs.
Lilly isn't a fan of the scene's interpretation. On Sunday, Elon Musk tweeted "take the red pill." Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and senior advisor, quoted the tweet triumphantly, saying "Taken!" "Fuck both of you," Wachowski replied to the tweet. Over 41,000 users have since retweeted the tweet.
Under the tweet, Wachowski posted a link to donate to the Brave Space Alliance. The group provides social services and advocacy to trans people in the South and West sides of Chicago. The group prides itself on serving areas predominantly inhabited by Black and Brown people.
Wachowski and her sister are both trans. The two collaborated on the first three "Matrix" films. Lilly currently writes for the Showtime comedy series "Work in Progress." Lana is currently working on a fourth installment of the series.
"Work in Progress" has recently been renewed for a second season.