It has been breaking box office records in the States (and even made it to the top spot here in the UK), but it seems former WWE wrestler and former governor of Minnesota Jesse “The Body” Ventura has spoken out against American Sniper.
Last year, Ventura won a $1.8 million lawsuit against the estate of Chris Kyle after the sniper wrote in his book that he had punched Ventura out after he said the country deserved to “lose a few in Iraq”. The Kyle estate has appealed against the lawsuit and Harper Collins, who published the book, removed the sub-chapter from Kyle’s best seller. The moment was never mentioned in the movie.
“A hero must be honourable, must have honour,” Ventura told the Associated Press (via The Hollywood Reporter). “And you can’t have honour if you’re a liar. There is no honour in lying.”
“It’s as authentic as Dirty Harry,” Ventura added, claiming that the film was nothing more than propaganda and that it conveys the false idea that Iraq were involved in the 9/11 attacks.
Ventura is no stranger to the big screen himself, having starred in two Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, Predator and Running Man.
American Sniper is out in cinemas now.
Originally published January 30, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
