“Not My Decision”: ‘Sound Of Hope’ EP Letitia Wright Distances Herself From Pic’s Right-Wing Promoter Daily Wire; Distributor Angel Studios Responds
UPDATED WITH DAILY WIRE STATEMENT: Black Panther star Letitia Wright, who is an executive producer on the faith-based movie Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, recently issued a statement on social media, distancing herself from the film’s conservative partners The Daily Wire.
Wright was reportedly getting dinged on social about being affiliated with the org, which claims was “not my decision” after Angel Studios took on distribution of the movie which tells the true story of a Texas church which adopted 70 foster kids.
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Wright posted on Instagram, “To be clear, after we completed the production of this film, Angel Studios were brought on board to handle its distribution and they later partnered with The Daily Wire. That was not my decision, and I was not given an update or made aware of this decision. I am in no way aligned or affiliated with The Daily Wire.”
“It’s a shame to see pockets of discourse online take a divisive political turn. This story isn’t about politics, it’s about children,” says Wright, who is Christian.
“Any conversation that detracts from that is unnecessary and harmful,” the actress continued.
Wright added, “I am thankful for all who want to positively champion this film and campaign to serve children. However, I do not condone using this beautiful film for divisive political purposes. That is not why I joined the project.”
In response to Wright’s comments, Angel Studios president Jordan Harmon had the following to say: “This powerful film takes a stand for vulnerable kids, and we’re pursuing partners who are passionate about this fight. Angel Studios is grateful for both Letitia and Daily Wire’s partnership on getting this story out into the world, and everyone concerned about the foster care and adoption crisis to get involved and see Sound of Hope.”
Sound of Hope opened on July 4 with a four-day take of $6.7 million. A year ago, Angel Studios drew a big right-wing audience to the movie Sound of Freedom, which tells the true story of Tim Ballard, a government agent-turned-vigilante who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from traffickers. The pic was a surprise summer blockbuster, grossing over $184 million at the domestic box office.
Wright drew controversy in 2021 after a report regarding her anti-Covid vaccine views during production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Wright’s latest statement comes in the wake of Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh promoting Sound of Hope on X, writing in a July 4 post that “Leftists are trying to stop Christians from saving more children.”
1/ In the late 1990s, Christian families in the small town of Possum Trot, TX, adopted 77 children from the foster-care system. It was a heroic effort by a small church community. Today, leftists are trying to stop Christians from saving more children: pic.twitter.com/qurSoNAnAV
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 4, 2024
Daily Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing had the following statement to Wright’s social media post prior to Angel Studios’ response this AM:
“On its opening day – July 4th – Sound of Hope was one of the highest grossing films nationwide, second only to Disney’s biggest release of the year. This movie is tracking to be huge and has the potential to launch a movement to end America’s foster crisis.
The Daily Wire is truly honored to partner with Angel Studios on such an important project.
But, such is the intolerance of the modern left that instead of celebrating this accomplishment and all it might mean, one of the film’s producers, Letitia Wright of Black Panther fame, used the occasion to condemn The Daily Wire’s involvement in sharing this message across the country.
Letitia and I probably don’t share the same politics, but I believe we share a Christian faith and, more importantly, the same goal of shining a light on something we can all agree on – a community banding together to help kids in need.
We hope people don’t allow this distraction to steal from the message from the film and the impact it can have. Everyone should see this movie and join the fight for kids. It’s too important not to.”
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