LAS VEGAS — Forty years after Ronald Reagan’s last political campaign — and more than two decades after his death — Facebook has decided promoting a biopic about the 40th US president is too political and can’t be advertised online, say the producers of the new film “Reagan.”
The film, starring Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, Jon Voight and Mena Suvari, hits theaters on August 30.
A letter obtained by the New York Post shows an executive of Rawhide Pictures, which produced “Reagan,” asking Mark Zuckerberg, head of Facebook’s parent firm Meta, to allow the film’s account “to both freely post as well as advertise our content” on the platform.
The turndowns are the second time the film’s promos have been blocked. But two weeks ago, a Facebook spokesperson told Newsweek magazine the rejections were “incorrectly” applied and “there are no restrictions” that would block administrators of the movie’s Facebook page from posting promotional materials.
Eric McClellan, the movie’s digital marketing director, said Zuckerberg hasn’t responded so far to their requests seeking answers. The Post has contacted a Facebook spokesman for comment.
“We’re trying to promote our film to our fans and reach new fans, and one of the key ways to do that is through advertising, through Meta on Facebook and on Instagram,” McClellan told The Post in a phone interview.
He claims the tech titan has blocked “Reagan” movie posts and promotions “several times over the past couple of years” and claimed the items violate community guidelines “because they deal with social issues.”
Facebook even said they were “concerned our content could sway public opinion or the outcome of an election.”
“But our content [is] about a movie,” McClellan said. “It’s nine positive quotes from Ronald Reagan, who hasn’t run in an election in 40 years, and we just don’t understand why they’re doing that.”
Social media giants like Facebook and Instagram are now essential to promoting films, the marketing director told The Post.
“You probably see how much time your friends and family spend on them, and they influence buyer behavior in all aspects of our life, and it’s one of the primary ways to reach our audience,” said McClellan.
“So if we can’t reach our audience through Facebook and Instagram, it’s a gross interference with our business and our ability to get our film out into public.”