PHOTOS: Matt Walsh’s ‘Am I Racist?’ Had A Big Nashville Premiere

The Matt Walsh documentary “Am I Racist?” marks the first theatrical release for The Daily Wire, and for such an occasion, it was only right to roll out the black carpet. The film’s team, Daily Wire talent, and multiple VIP guests were all in attendance on Monday, September 9, for the film’s big premiere event at Regal Green Hills in Nashville.

Several premiere attendees took time to speak with the camera crew and express their excitement for the release, including what it means for the future of conservative entertainment.

Matt Walsh arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Walsh said of the film, “If something is funny, [people are] more receptive to your message, I think. And look, the Left is also incredibly ridiculous — among other words we could use to describe them. And if we’re not having success making fun of that in a funny way, then what the hell are we doing?”

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 09: (L-R) Jon Lewis, Dallas Sonnier, Justin Folk, Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Jeremy Boreing, Caleb Robinson, Benyam Capel, and Brian Hoffman arrive at Am I Racist? Movie Premiere at Regal Green Hills on September 09, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+)

Ben Shapiro arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Ben Shapiro said during a red carpet interview, “Well, obviously, DEI is at the center of everything. It’s the heart of the Biden-Harris administration. They’ve said so.”

He continued, “And they’ve said that equity infuses all of their policy. And what this movie does, it takes that concept, and not only does it break down the cons, it breaks out what it really is, which is a complete grift.” Shapiro went on to describe how Walsh does “something no one else in America is capable of doing, which is keep a straight face in front of people while they discuss this stuff and they think they’re talking to a friend.”

“And so they really show you what they think,” Shapiro said. “And what becomes absolutely clear is what a con this is. This is just a con, beginning to end. So it’s not just a matter of it being morally bad. It also is a ripoff. It’s a ripoff of corporations, of consumers, of taxpayers, and it needs to stop.”

John Bickley arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Sean Spicer arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Jeremy Boreing and Matt Walsh arrive at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Daily Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing noted that “in many ways,” Walsh’s film is “a fulfillment of the dream of The Daily Wire to be creating culture, not just critiquing culture.”

Boreing also praised Walsh: “The fact that this film is coming out nationwide in wide theatrical release, I think is a testament to Matt Walsh’s unique talent. He’s one-of-one, the only person in the conservative movement who could have made this film.”

The Daily Wire co-founder also spoke to how culture changes people’s minds.

“And so that’s why culture is so important, because it’s really the ground in which people’s worldview grows, and now we’re planting seeds into that soil. So I think that absolutely people’s minds will change because of this film…”

Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!

Dr. Jordan B Peterson called the genre of film “a very new phenomenon – to have conservative satirists or even Christian conservative satirists, which is more absurd.”

He added, “I mean, it shows a kind of maturity and it’s a very good way of introducing people to ideas that they might not otherwise consider. It’s also a very effective way of critiquing ideas. I mean, satire and ridicule are appropriate responses to ideas that are very worthy of being satirized and ridiculed. And Matt handles that in a manner that I think everyone will find relatable.”

Peterson also said most average Americans don’t realize how pervasive the DEI con has become. “I mean, most people are tangled up enough in the details of their own lives, so they don’t attend much to politics or to philosophy. And so no, and I think people tend to take things at face value so that when they hear well-meaning, theoretically well-meaning people talk about equity, they think, well, of course things should be equitable.”

“They have no idea what it means,” he added. “They have no idea that it’s grounded in a kind of nihilistic Marxism. And so that’s another service that Matt and [the crew] are performing is to show the nature of the charlatans who are involved in this movement, which I think this movie does quite effectively, especially with regards to Saira Rao and and Robin DiAngelo, who get what they deserve, as far as I’m concerned.”

Caleb Robinson arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Cabot Phillips arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Bo Loudon arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+)

Matt Fradd (L) arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Kirk Cameron arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Siaka Massaquoi arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Blain Crain, Jake Crain, and David Cone of Crain & Company arrive at Am I Racist? Movie premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Andrew Klavan arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+)

Michael Knowles arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Michael Knowles said from the red carpet, “What’s really amazing is Matt is performing a farcical and absurd character, and he’s going up against people who are raking in tens of thousands of dollars or more in speaking fees to give very serious presentations for the Left. And the two characters are indistinguishable. In fact, when the earnest people see the farcical version, they don’t even recognize it … that’s scary.”

Brett Cooper arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

“It’s important to have a movie like this because comedy teaches us things,” Brett Cooper said on the red carpet. “Comedy is one of the most important mediums for moving the needle and having people face uncomfortable conversations comfortably, kind of like dipping their toe in the water.”

She added, “This is a conversation that has been dominated by anger and vitriol and aggression and cancellations for so many years. And it feels like it’s exited for a little bit. And now it’s like anti-racism is back in vogue. Influencers getting canceled right and left. We’re back in, like, very touchy territory. And so to have something come out that is so comedically fueled, that has such a good heart, but is also going to teach a lesson … I think it’s so perfect for this time.”

Jon Lewis arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Amber Coyle arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Mary Morgan arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Clay Travis arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Sebastian Gorka arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+)

Sam Alvey arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Tyler Fischer arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

ZUBY arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Benyam Capel arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Jordan Peterson arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Bryson Gray arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

Jenna Ellis arrives at Am I Racist? premiere | Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+

After impressive ticket pre-sales, the film was expanded to 1,500 screens nationwide. Get your tickets now at amiracist.com.