Al Pacino Donated Earnings from Controversial Film “Cruising” Due to Exploitative Subject Matter on LGBTQ+ Community

Al Pacino has revealed that he anonymously donated his earnings from the controversial 1980 film “Cruising” because he found it to be exploitative of the LGBTQ+ community. Reflecting on the film’s production in his new memoir, “Sonny Boy,” the legendary actor expressed mixed feelings about the project.

Released over four decades ago, “Cruising” featured Pacino, then 39, as a police officer going undercover in New York’s gay bar scene to catch a serial killer targeting gay men. The film, directed by William Friedkin, faced backlash during its run, with protests erupting from individuals who believed it painted the LGBTQ+ community in a negative light.

In his memoir, Pacino, now 84, shares that he was initially intrigued by the idea of “pushing the envelope” and did not fully grasp the film’s implications while shooting. However, he later understood its exploitative nature and chose not to promote it upon release. Instead, he decided to take a significant portion of his earnings and place it in an irrevocable trust fund dedicated to charity.

“I took the money, and it was considerable,” he wrote. “I gave it to charities, and with the interest, it was able to last a couple of decades. I don’t know if it eased my conscience, but at least the money did some good.” Notably, Pacino made these donations anonymously to avoid the perception of seeking publicity.

With the release of “Sonny Boy,” Pacino hopes that one positive outcome from his experience with “Cruising” was achieved. The memoir is currently available for purchase, providing deeper insights into the actor’s reflections on his storied career and the complex issues of representation in film.