Pedro Pascal once again used a major Hollywood platform to promote gender-related political activism—this time at the Berlin premiere of Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Studios’ next high-stakes attempt to revive a struggling franchise.
Speaking from the red carpet in Berlin, Pascal told reporters, “It’s important to protect people, especially those simply asking for the right to exist in bodies that belong to them and in the world that they never asked to be brought into.”
Pedro Pascal speaks out about trans people at the premier of The Fantastic Four in Berlin.
Women have a right to single sex spaces.#Bornmalealwaysaman pic.twitter.com/4NI3isarHM— cavakaggyreborn (@cavakaggyreborn) July 9, 2025
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The statement, although framed broadly, clearly references individuals who identify as a different gender than their biological sex—a cause Pascal has championed consistently since 2021, when his brother Lucas publicly transitioned to female and now goes by the name Lux Pascal.
“It’s a very, very small, vulnerable, inspiring, courageous and brave community that fills me with a lot of inspiration,” he said. “Therefore, it’s very important to protect that. They would do that for us.”
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
As pointed out by Breitbart, Pascal’s comments mark the second time in just a few weeks that he has used a high-profile Marvel event to advance his views on gender identity. At the U.K. premiere of Thunderbolts, he wore a “Project the Dolls” t-shirt—“Dolls” being common slang for male-to-female gender transitions.
While Pascal is certainly entitled to his views and enjoys the freedom to express them, his decision to make politically charged statements at the premiere of a film like Fantastic Four—a tentpole Marvel release for general audiences—is bound to raise controversy. Not only does it blur the line between entertainment and activism, but it also potentially links Disney’s multimillion-dollar franchise to one side of an ongoing cultural debate.
A screenshot of Pedro Pascal dancing suggestively with a rainbow colored rod suggestively at an event – X, @pascalarchive
This isn’t an isolated incident. In April, Pascal made headlines for calling Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling a “heinous loser” over her public advocacy for women’s rights in single-sex spaces. Just last month, he escalated his rhetoric again, saying Rowling was a bully who makes him “f—ing sick,” while appearing to suggest that any criticism of gender ideology is inherently bigoted.
Even fans of Pascal’s own show The Last of Us haven’t escaped his ire. After some expressed discomfort with the show’s explicit identity-driven themes and depictions, Pascal accused critics of “terrorizing” the very people his advocacy supports.
A post shared by Pedro Pascal around the time Gina Carano was fired. Pascal suffered no blowback or consequences for it – Instagram
In this latest instance, though, the messaging may carry more implications. Fantastic Four: First Steps is not just another release—it’s one of Marvel’s cornerstone properties, intended to relaunch interest in a cinematic universe that has seen significant fan disengagement over the last few years. With Pascal now part of that launch and bringing his political advocacy along for the ride, it adds yet another layer to Disney’s continued blending of identity politics with mainstream entertainment.
What It Means for Disney
Pedro Pascal’s visibility and influence in Hollywood have only grown in recent years, thanks in part to his starring roles in The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, and now his involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But his increasing tendency to inject political and ideological messaging into entertainment events is becoming part of the story.
Pedro Pascal at the Cannes Film Festival – Photo Credit: Gabriel Hutchinson Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Whether Pedro Pascal helps or hurts Fantastic Four remains to be seen, but Disney’s recent history suggests this kind of polarizing commentary can alienate segments of the audience. With The Marvels, Thunderbolts, Captain America: Brave New World, and many others underperforming at the box office and shows like Ironheart generating little buzz, the studio can hardly afford further controversy.
Pedro Pascal on SNL – YouTube, Saturday Night Live
Still, Pedro Pascal shows no signs of backing down ahead of the Fantastic Four release—and now, neither does Marvel. As these comments continue to be made on red carpets and during press junkets, the message is increasingly clear: the line between Hollywood storytelling and activist messaging is no longer just blurred—it’s disappearing.
Do you think Pedro Pascal will hurt the Fantastic Four box office with his gender activism? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
