Jesse Eisenberg, renowned for his role as Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg in the film The Social Network, recently expressed a strong desire to distance himself from the Meta CEO, citing the latter's actions as "problematic." In a candid interview with BBC Radio 4, Eisenberg articulated his discomfort with being associated with Zuckerberg, particularly in light of recent controversies surrounding Meta's decision to eliminate independent fact-checking on its platforms.

Eisenberg remarked, "I haven’t been following his life trajectory, partly because I don’t want to think of myself as associated with somebody like that." He further elaborated on Zuckerberg's controversial approach to content moderation, noting, "It’s like this guy is doing things that are problematic, taking away fact-checking, making people who are already threatened in the world more threatened" according to BBC.

Meta recently announced a shift from independent fact-checkers to a user-driven system called "community notes," which invites users to comment on the accuracy of posts. This change has sparked significant backlash, with critics arguing it could exacerbate the spread of misinformation. Eisenberg voiced his concerns, stating, "These people have billions upon billions of dollars, like more money than any human person has ever amassed, and what are they doing with it?" CNN reported.

Reflecting on Zuckerberg’s recent efforts to rebuild ties with former President Donald Trump, Eisenberg expressed disappointment, suggesting that such moves only serve to "curry favor with somebody who’s preaching hate." His frustration stems from a perceived alignment between Meta’s policies and political maneuvering that could harm vulnerable communities according to USA Today.

Eisenberg’s commentary is particularly poignant as he promotes his own film A Real Pain, which has received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination. The film tackles deep personal and historical themes as it follows two cousins on a journey to visit Holocaust sites in Poland. Eisenberg explained the importance of balancing serious themes with humor, saying, "It would be so sanctimonious without any humor in it" HuffPost. The screenplay for which has already garnered praise, alongside his collaborations, especially noting co-star Kieran Culkin.

As Eisenberg continues to carve his path in the film industry, he remains vocal about the implications of Zuckerberg's decisions at Meta, emphasizing the need for critical discourse around such influential figures in our society as noted by India Times.