Al Pacino Donates Cruising Paycheck to Charity

Al Pacino revealed in his memoir 'Sonny Boy' that he donated his entire paycheck from the controversial 1980 film 'Cruising' to charity, due to the movie's 'exploitative' nature towards the gay community. The film, which depicts a detective infiltrating New York City's gay S&M scene to catch a serial killer, faced significant backlash and protests during its production. Pacino admitted he felt uncomfortable promoting the film after realizing its flaws and chose to make anonymous donations from his paycheck to ease his conscience. He established an irrevocable trust fund for the money, intending for it to benefit various charities over the years. Pacino stated he preferred not to publicize his charitable actions, seeking only to create a positive outcome from a troubling experience. His reflections on the film highlight his evolving sensitivity toward representation and community issues in Hollywood.