The Matrix Creator Lilly Wachowski Attacks Conservatives Who Use the Term “Red-Pilled”

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Lilly Wachowski, one of the directors of The Matrix, has criticized conservatives for using the term “red-pilled,” arguing it’s a way of aligning themselves with fascism. Her comments, recently reported by The Post Millennial, have sparked a discussion about who controls the meaning of phrases inspired by the film and whether the filmmakers understand how those phrases are used today.

During an interview on the So True with Caleb Hearon podcast, Lana Wachowski, a transgender woman, criticized conservatives for manipulating political language to suit their agendas.

According to Wachowski, right-wing ideology borrows ideas from all sides. They take viewpoints from the left and twist them to fit their own agenda, ultimately distorting the original message.

This brings us to the popular phrase “red-pilled,” now used to describe the point when someone starts to doubt commonly accepted beliefs. Conservatives have embraced this term, which greatly upsets the filmmaker. She believes this wasn’t a coincidence, but rather part of a larger trend.

Wachowski explained that this kind of behavior is typical of fascism, stating it inevitably happens with all aspects of life.

Wachowski went further, claiming that even simple conversations about biological sex aren’t valid, and should be considered propaganda.

The director questioned the recent claim that there are only two biological genders, despite it being presented as scientific fact. They expressed confusion about where this idea originated and emphasized that it isn’t based on actual science.

It’s hard to miss the irony. The phrase “red-pilled” comes from the movie The Matrix, where taking the red pill symbolized realizing the truth about a fake world. This idea appealed to people of all political views before the filmmakers recently voiced their concerns. Now, the term is generally used to describe anyone – regardless of their political leaning – who starts to doubt mainstream beliefs. However, the creators of The Matrix now claim that those who use the phrase most often are twisting its original intent.

Wachowski went on to bemoan fan interpretations of The Matrix more broadly.

Lilly Wachowski has expressed frustration with the wild interpretations and ideologies that have sprung up around the Matrix films, often disagreeing with them. However, she acknowledges that once a story is released, creators have no control over how audiences understand it, regardless of their own beliefs or intentions. You can’t expect everyone to see what you originally intended.

These recent comments from Lilly Wachowski will likely confirm what many conservative readers already believe about being “red-pilled” – becoming aware of truths that influential people want to keep hidden. The suggestion that ordinary people using a common phrase are “fascists” will probably seem extreme to most, and possibly an effort to intimidate and silence those with different political views.

Cultural disagreements are still most noticeable around this idea. The term ‘red-pilled’ became widespread not because conservatives tried to change what a movie meant, but because many people – from different political viewpoints – understood the underlying idea. Even if the original creator now claims audiences misinterpreted it, that doesn’t undo the significant cultural impact it’s had over the past 25 years.

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed a pattern: when a filmmaker tries to tell us how we’re supposed to understand their story, it usually backfires. It’s like, the more they say ‘don’t read it this way,’ the more people will want to read it that way. It’s just how we’re wired, honestly. You can’t really control how a story resonates with people, no matter how much you try.

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2025-12-04 00:58