Celebrities

Kevin Smith reveals he received ‘bona fide death threats’ for cult classic ‘Dogma’

By
Janelle Ash, Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News
Published Sep. 18, 2024, 2:43 p.m. ET

Director Kevin Smith didn’t receive well-wishes after “Dogma” was released in 1999.

Smith told Entertainment Weekly on Friday that he recalled receiving “400,000 pieces of hate mail and three bona fide death threats” after the film debuted.

The comedy starred Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as two fallen angels who attempt to get from New Jersey back to heaven.

“The movie had a rubber poop monster in it,” Smith told the outlet. “Can you imagine getting that irate over a movie with a rubber poop monster?”

Smith recalled a lot of the hateful messages he received focused on his take on religion.

One message he vividly remembers said: “You Jews better take that money you stole from us and start investing in flak jackets, because we’re coming in there with shotguns.”

“I hope whoever wrote that, that missive, found peace,” Smith told the outlet.

“Dogma” is currently not on streaming services.

Smith told The Wrap in 2022 that producer Harvey Weinstein was “holding it hostage.”

Director Kevin Smith didn't receive well-wishes after "Dogma" was released in 1999.
Director Kevin Smith didn’t receive well-wishes after “Dogma” was released in 1999. Getty Images

“My movie about angels is owned by the devil himself,” he told the outlet at the time.

Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted in February 2020 of forcing oral sex on TV and film production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and third-degree rape of hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013.

The comedy starred Ben Affleck (R) and Matt Damon (L) as two fallen angels who attempt to get from New Jersey back to heaven.
The comedy starred Ben Affleck (R) and Matt Damon (L) as two fallen angels who attempt to get from New Jersey back to heaven.
(L-R) Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Salma Hayek, and Alanis Morissette, who all starred in the movie are seen together with Kevin Smith (C) the film’s LA 1999 premiere.
(L-R) Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Salma Hayek, and Alanis Morissette, who all starred in the movie are seen together with Kevin Smith (C) the film’s LA 1999 premiere. AFP via Getty Images

He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault from actress Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of rape in the 1990s.

Weinstein has denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex.

Ultimately, the appeals court found that the trial judge should have only allowed witnesses to testify about the sexual assault encounters that Weinstein’s charges stemmed from.

DOGMA, Alanis Morissette, Alan Rickman and director Kevin Smith on the set, 1999.
Smith told The Wrap that producer Harvey Weinstein was “holding it hostage” and is not on streaming services. ©Miramax/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
Pictured: (l-r) Director Kevin Smith during an interview with host Seth Meyers on September 12, 2024.
“The movie had a rubber poop monster in it,” Smith said. “Can you imagine getting that irate over a movie with a rubber poop monster?” Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images

During his trial, multiple women testified about sexual assaults allegedly performed by Weinstein, even though it wasn’t what he faced charges for.

Weinstein’s retrial is scheduled to begin in November.

Earlier this month, he was indicted on additional sex crimes charges.

He is set to be arraigned for those charges on Sept. 18.