Andrew Garfield was criticized on social media after making a statement about his new movie "The Uprising" at a Los Angeles film screening on Thursday. The actor expressed hope that the film would be "galvanizing" and make people feel like their struggles are reflected in the story of England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt, adding "if any billionaires watch it, they're scared sh--less." Garfield has faced backlash for his comments, with critics pointing out his own substantial wealth and accusing him of hypocrisy. Some commentators noted the irony that a multi-millionaire like Garfield is playing a working-class character in the film.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Andrew Garfield, the star of the new historical action drama "The Uprising", is facing backlash after making comments about his hopes for viewers who are billionaires. At a film screening in Los Angeles on Thursday, Garfield said he wants people to feel a sense of awakening and connection with the struggles of the characters in the movie, which depicts England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt, which took place after the Black Death and was sparked by heavy taxes imposed by King Richard II's court. In response to an audience member's question about what he hoped viewers would take away from the film, Garfield said he wanted it to be "galvanizing" and to make people feel like their own struggles are being reflected in those of the characters. He then added that he hoped any billionaires who watch the movie will be "scared sh--less". The comments have sparked criticism from some, who point out the irony of a movie about class struggle and economic inequality potentially earning large sums of money for its stars and producers.
Written for “Andrew Garfield Backlash” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but every quote it verified points left, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 6490: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-07
Andrew Garfield took heat on X after calling out “billionaires” while discussing his new movie, “The Uprising,” Thursday at a Los Angeles film screening.
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Garfield → take → screening
In a video uploaded by film review website, The Movie Report, Garfield and director Paul Greengrass answered questions about the historical action drama that depicts England’s 1381 Peasants’ Revolt.
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that → upload → Revolt
The story takes place in the aftermath of the Black Death, when heavy taxes imposed by King Richard II’s court to fund the Hundred Years’ War push impoverished commoners to a breaking point.
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taxes → take → point
“What’s your dream takeaway for people in the audience when they go home?” an audience member asked Garfield, adding, “What are you hoping for?”
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you → ’ → What
“Well, first I hope they come and see it, first thing,” Garfield responded.
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Garfield → hope → it
“Secondly, I hope it’s galvanizing.
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it → hope → ?
I hope there’s some awakening that people feel … that we all feel like our own struggles are being reflected in the struggles of these characters from a distant time and place and that it could be directive.”
uncertain
it → hope → time
“And I hope that if any billionaires watch it, they’re scared sh–less,” Garfield added.
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Garfield → hope → it
Garfield’s remarks sparked swift backlash, with critics highlighting the substantial wealth the movie star has accumulated throughout his career.
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star → spark → career
“When I first heard they were making a period film about Wat Tyler, I was pretty excited.
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I → hear → Tyler
But the more Andrew Garfield talks, the more it sounds like it’s just going to be socialist garbage,” said Rick Davis, an associate pastor at Providence Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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Davis → talk → Lynchburg
(Garfield plays a fictional lead character named Ploughman in the film, while actor Cosmo Jarvis portrays historical rebel leader Wat Tyler).
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Jarvis → play → Tyler
Spencer Pratt, a former candidate for mayor in Los Angeles, pointed out what he viewed as irony in Garfield’s statement.
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he → point → statement
“You mean…like the billionaires who greenlight your movies and stroke all your multi-million dollar paychecks?
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who → mean → paychecks
Or they good?” Pratt wrote.
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Pratt → write → ?
He added, “Ironically, Garfield just got paid like $5M for playing billionaire Sam Altman in Artificial.”
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Garfield → add → Artificial
“Hilarious that world-famous, multi, multi millionaire Andrew Garfield is cosplaying as a put upon member of the working class,” Substack columnist John William Sherrod posted.
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Sherrod → cosplaye → class
“More billionaires were involved in making this than will probably ever watch it,” Noam Blum, chief technology officer at Tablet Magazine also posted.
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Blum → involve → Magazine
Garfield has starred in major blockbuster films including “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man.”
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Garfield → star → Man
Neither Garfield nor Greengrass responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Garfield → respond → comment
Conversation
Your voice matters.
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voice → matter → Conversation
Discussions are moderated for civility.
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Discussions → moderate → civility
