Meet Matt Walsh, who’s behind the controversial Am I Racist? mockumentary: the anti-abortion, anti-LGBT rights commentator is supported by his wife Alissa, who has suffered 7 miscarriages

Oct 4 , 2024

Matt Walsh arrives at the Am I Racist? premiere in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Getty Images

Ben Shapiro’s The Daily Wire is behind this Borat-style documentary film that sees Walsh going undercover to explore the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) industry

Conservative podcaster and columnist Matt Walsh’s latest Borat-style mockumentary, Am I Racist?, has not only surprised Hollywood with its unexpected financial success, it’s also stirred up plenty of controversy.

Some of the people in the film have accused Walsh of “tricking” them into taking part. The media company behind the documentary is Ben Shapiro’s The Daily Wire, where Walsh is a writer and podcaster. The anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ rights columnist, however, is unapologetic.

Here’s what you need to know about Matt Walsh.

What is the film about?

In the film, Walsh goes undercover as a “beta male” exploring the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) world, interviewing DEO consultants and securing interviews with well-known names in the industry.

White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo was one of the people he managed to interview. He convinced her to give his Black male colleague money as part of “racial repatriations”. DiAngelo later said she was “played” and slammed Walsh’s tactics to get her to take part in the film.

How did the film do at the box office?

Matt Walsh’s Am I Racist? was a sleeper hit. Photo: @mattwalshblog/Instagram

Am I Racist? was an unexpected success. According to the Hollywood Reporter, over its opening weekend of September 13 to 15, the film grossed US$4.5 million alone, making it the top opening for a political documentary since Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004.