Morgan Freeman’s ban from visiting Russia prompts social media reactions

Morgan Freeman’s placement on a list of Americans banned from visiting Russia prompted a plethora of reactions on social media Monday.

The Academy Award-winning actor, 84, was among the 963 people on the list released by the Kremlin Saturday, calling him ‘a well-known film actor who in September 2017 recorded a video message accusing Russia of conspiring against the United States and calling for a fight against our country.’

The star of films such as The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy and Se7en had appeared in a clip for the Committee to Investigate Russia in which he claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin had implemented ‘cyber warfare to attack democracies around the world,’ particularly his ‘sworn enemy, the United States.’

The latest: Morgan Freeman’s placement on a list of Americans banned from visiting Russia prompted a plethora of reactions on social media Monday. The actor, 84, was snapped last year during the remote Critics Choice Awards

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Freeman said in the clip: ‘We have been attacked; we are at war.’

Some users noted Freeman’s past roles in response to the news item, including his portrayal of God in the 2003 film Bruce Almighty.

‘Russia banned Morgan Freeman… Dont they know that man is both God and Lucius Fox…. how they think that gon end for them?’ one user said. Another said, ‘I’m dead. Russia banned Morgan Freeman … they banned God from Bruce Almighty lmao. I’m f***ing dead.’ 

One user pointed out the veteran actor’s enduring popularity in response to the ban: ‘I hadn’t realized how messed up Putin’s Russia was until I found out they didn’t like Morgan Freeman. Who the f*** doesn’t like Morgan Freeman?’

Some users noted Freeman’s past roles in response to the news item, including his portrayal of God in the film Bruce Almighty. 

One user pointed out the veteran actor’s enduring popularity in response to the ban

Some users questioned the impact of banning the Oscar-winner from the country 

Some users questioned the impact of banning the Oscar-winner from the country.

‘Don’t worry Morgan Freeman, getting banned from Russia is like getting kicked off the Titanic before departure,’ one user wrote, while another said, ‘As if Morgan Freeman even wanna go to Russia.’ 

Other notable names on the list included President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, ex-White House press secretary Jen Psaki, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and members of Congress including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Ayanna Pressley.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was on the list, while ex-President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were not.

Three deceased politicians – Sen. John McCain, Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Orrin Hatch – were also on the list, according to The Washington Post.

The Academy Award-winning actor was snapped at an event in LA in 2020 

Some users noted the absurdity of Russia also banning the late Sen. John McCain, who died in August of 2018