Keanu Reeves faced media and public criticism when he attended a party that violated all COVID-19 rules. Reeves reprised his role as Neo in the fourth installment of The Matrix, with the filming beginning in 2020. However, the production was soon halted due to COVID-19 restrictions. The director Lana Wachowski even considered abandoning the project, but she eventually completed the project in November 2020 and threw a wrap-up party for the crew.
The party was disguised as a film shoot, and about 200 film crew members attended it in Germany, despite the COVID-19 restrictions banning such gatherings. When tabloids exposed the event, both Reeves and the crew received severe backlash.
Keanu Reeves’ Movie Broke COVID-19 Restrictions For A Wrap-Up Party
The wrap-up party for The Matrix Resurrections was held in Brandenburg, Germany, where gatherings with more than fifty guests were banned. The production team attempted to conceal the event as a film shoot, with crew members posing as extras in the film. While PCR tests and masks were made mandatory, the party still violated several COVID-19 rules.
The news was reported by German newspapers, and one of the tabloids, Bild, managed to get first-hand information from a party attendee. This person revealed that once the party began, no one cared for the COVID-19 rules. There was no actual filming taking place, and many attendees did not wear masks during the party. The attendee told Bild (via The Guardian):
“The mood was exuberant. Everyone was given a corona PCR test in advance. Everyone needed to come wearing a mask but many people didn’t wear them as the party wore on. No directorial instructions were given, there was no clapperboard and no one was filming.”
Apart from the fifty-people restriction, the German government also mandated a “hygiene concept” for such events, including masking and social distancing, none of which were followed at the party. Bild also reported the attendance of Keanu Reeves and his partner, Alexandra Grant. According to the Bild reports (via The Guardian), Reeves sat at a corner table, had wine, and left the party early.
The Production Team Insisted That The Party Was A Celebration Scene In The Movie
The party was allegedly thrown by producers Lana and Lilly Wachowski, and Bild reported that they codenamed the party as “Icecream Teamevent”. However, the producers reiterated the fact that the party was part of a celebration scene in the movie and that they had complied with the hygiene regulations. German health authorities shared that they had not been informed of any events by the production team.
Reports also suggested that it was a proper party with entertainment and refreshments. Bedouin-style tents and hippy-style caravans were arranged for more private guests. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 situation in Germany worsened 12 days after the party, with an increase in cases leading to severe restrictions.
This event certainly brought a bad rap for Keanu Reeves, who had long enjoyed a place in the good books of the audience. The John Wick actor is nicknamed “the internet’s boyfriend” due to his introverted yet friendly personality and kind nature. The Matrix Resurrections turned out to be one of the biggest box-office disappointments in the franchise grossing just $159 million.
All movies in The Matrix franchise are now available for streaming on Max.
