Fact Check: Did RFK Jr say 'The Odyssey' was made for 'gay men and cowards'?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral video claims that Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr criticized Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey,' saying it was marketed toward "gay men and cowards."

The clip surfaced as Nolan's latest film continues to draw strong box office numbers and critical praise, while also sparking online debate among some viewers. But did RFK Jr actually remark?

Claim: RFK Jr said 'The Odyssey' was made for 'gay men and cowards'

A video circulating on social media claimed to show Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr criticizing Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey,' alleging that the film's producers marketed it toward "gay men and cowards."

The clip has spread widely across X, with users debating whether the remarks are authentic.

One user shared the video with the caption, “RFK goes off on Nolan’s Odyssey: ‘You might want to sit down for this.’ Unreal.”

In the clip, Kennedy allegedly said, “If you liked The Odyssey, I have news for you, and you might want to sit down for this.” He then appeared to add, “We did some research and found out the producers marketed it towards gay men and cowards specifically.”

The alleged video continued with Kennedy saying, “So, if you ended up liking it, there's no easy way to say this but go ahead and call your dad and let him know you're a bigger fruit loop than Toucan Sam.”

He also allegedly claimed, “As we all know, Hollywood exists so clinically insane people and big gay wads can congratulate each other for producing increasingly bizarre anti-Western propaganda.”

The clip was reshared by several other X users. Several other X users amplified the clip, with some implying that Kennedy's alleged remarks reflected his views on men who enjoyed Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey,' while others sarcastically suggested he had "proven" that fans of the film were more likely to be gay and cowardly.

Fact Check: False, the video originated as satire

The claim is false. Robert F Kennedy Jr did not make any remarks about Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey.' The video originated from X user Maverick Alexander, whose account is labeled as satire. The clip itself also included the disclaimer, "Unreal: Lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness," making it clear that the video is fabricated and not an authentic recording of the health secretary.

There is also no credible reporting, official statement, interview, or public appearance in which Kennedy criticized 'The Odyssey' or made the alleged comments. The viral clip relied entirely on fabricated audio and satirical presentation rather than any real remarks from RFK Jr.

The fake video surfaced amid criticism of 'The Odyssey' from some conservative commentators. In the film, Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus emphasizes the character's guilt over the sack of Troy and the psychological trauma he carries after the war.

According to The Independent, some critics on the political right argued that the film portrayed the legendary Greek hero as overly vulnerable. One right-wing cultural commentator wrote on X, "The main struggle for Nolan and his producer wife is that they can't make the ancient Greeks too heroic, masculine, iconic because that would uphold the Euro-supremacist roots of all Western Civilization ... So you cast a woke manlet as the King." However, these reactions are unrelated to the fabricated video falsely attributed to Kennedy.