In a week that has already seen John Leguizamo dominate the headlines, the actor has reportedly taken a drastic—and potentially final—step in his ongoing battle with the American political and media landscape. On the heels of a massive contract termination and a viral firestorm, reports are surfacing that Leguizamo has scrubbed his social media of the controversial video regarding ICE, leaving behind a haunting parting message: “Enough of this country, no respect for the truth… I’m leaving.”
If true, this marks a seismic shift for the Emmy-winning performer, moving from vocal activist to a man seemingly ready to walk away from the nation that made him a star.
The timeline of this fallout moved with lightning speed. On January 28, 2026, Leguizamo posted a blunt message to his millions of followers in response to the deaths of two civilians during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis. He drew a hard line in the sand:
“If you follow ICE, unfollow me. Don’t come to my shows and don’t watch my movies.”
The reaction was immediate. While supporters hailed him as a champion of human rights, critics—including fellow actor Dean Cain and several major media outlets—blasted him for being “divisive” and “un-American.”
The fallout wasn’t just digital; it was financial. Just days after the video went viral, 20th Century Fox reportedly pulled the plug on a historic $500 million three-movie deal with Leguizamo. Studio executives cited “conduct and brand alignment” clauses, stating that they could not support talent that actively tells a significant portion of their potential audience to stay home.
The studio’s blunt dismissal—”He can find work someplace else”—appears to have been the breaking point for the Latin History for Morons creator.
By the morning of February 1, 2026, the original “Unfollow ICE” video had vanished from Leguizamo’s Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) feeds. In its place, a brief text post or video (depending on the platform) appeared, capturing the actor in a state of visible disillusionment.
Leguizamo’s reported comments reflect a man who feels the “truth” of the situation—specifically the human cost of current immigration policies—is being drowned out by corporate interests and partisan vitriol. His declaration that he is “leaving” the country has sent fans and critics alike into a frenzy of speculation. Is he retiring? Moving his production company abroad? Or simply stepping away from the “American experiment” he has spent decades trying to improve?
Leguizamo has always been more than just an actor; he’s been a historian of the Latino experience in the U.S. His departure would represent a significant loss for representation in Hollywood, but more importantly, it signals a deepening fracture in American culture. When an artist of his stature decides that the “respect for truth” has vanished to the point of exile, it forces a conversation that goes far beyond a movie contract.