Fourteen years after playing Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, Jesse Eisenberg has spoken out against his former character’s actions. During a recent appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today, Eisenberg expressed his concerns about Zuckerberg’s decision to drop fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, citing the potential harm it could cause to vulnerable individuals.
Eisenberg also spoke about the billionaire’s association with former US President Donald Trump, including their meeting at Mar-a-Lago and Meta’s $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund. The actor stated that he disagrees with Zuckerberg’s actions, particularly those that promote hateful ideologies, saying “you read these things… And what are they doing with it? Oh, they’re doing it to curry favor with somebody who’s preaching hateful things.”
Eisenberg’s comments echo his earlier statements about the tech giant’s behavior. In 2023, he told NPR’s Terry Gross that Zuckerberg’s actions had made him “a little bit sad” and forced him to ponder why this was the path he chose.
The actor also expressed frustration with people assuming he is somehow associated with Zuckerberg due to their brief connection at a charity event in 2011. Eisenberg stated, “It’s not like I played a great golfer or something and now people think I’m a great golfer… It’s like this guy that’s doing things that are problematic.”
Eisenberg has been critical of Zuckerberg’s actions, even when portraying him on screen. In 2023, he said he once deemed Zuckerberg’s actions “totally defensible” but later realized they were not justifiable. The actor believes it is puzzling to see someone with significant wealth and influence not using their power for good.
Eisenberg’s comments highlight his shift from humanizing Zuckerberg on screen to criticizing his real-life actions off-screen.
Source: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/jesse-eisenberg-unfriended-mark-zuckerberg-a-long-time-ago