Halo voice actor calls on White House to 'immediately' take his voice off 'propaganda video' about Iran war

Halo voice actor Steve Downes has asked the White House to remove a social media clip promoting ongoing military efforts in Iran that features multiple clips from popular media, including the image of his character Master Chief and his vocals.

Downes, 75, took to X Sunday with a statement distancing himself from the clip - which was captioned 'JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY' - and message it sent.

'It has come to my attention that there is at least one propaganda video circulating that was either produced or at the very least endorsed by the White House that uses images of Master Chief and uses my voice to support the war in Iran,' Downes said.

Downes said that he was not involved with the making of the clip; and doesn't endorse it or its message: 'Let me make this crystal clear: I did not participate in nor was I consulted, nor do I endorse the use of my voice in this video, or the message it conveys.'

Downes concluded: 'I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately.'

Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for further comment on this story.  

Other notable show business figures seen in the clip, which was posted March 5, included actors Russell Crowe, Keanu Reeves, Bob Odenkirk, Bryan Cranston, Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise.

A number of X users appeared to rebuke the voice actor for his brash reaction to his character's inclusion in the clip.

Said one user: 'You should be happy. This is the most relevant halo has been since the Bush Administration.'

Another asked Downes, 'Can you be any more cringe?' - arguing that no one would think the ad was a direct reflection of his political leanings.  

'No one hears the ad and thinks, "Gee, now that I know voice actor Steve [Downes] is in favor of the war because the character he voice acted was used in a war ad,"' the user said. 

One user said that Downes' apparent disavowing of the ongoing military efforts did not square with spirit of the game Halo, which was first released in 2001, or his character. 

Said the user: 'Master Chief was, "Bred for combat, built for war" according to the original packaging for Halo CE. 

'So, the entire idea from the beginning was glorifying war for fun. Do you denounce your career?'

One user added, 'Most people don't even know who you are' with an adjacent graphic that read, 'No one cares.'

Downes began voicing the character for the video game in 2001 after a career in radio that spanned more than four decades.

'An actor friend of mine told me to "never get out of the line" and my turn eventually came,' Downes told the website Game Crater in 2021 of his run as Master Chief.

He said that the game's composer Martin O’Donnell recommended him for the part.

'It's the biggest role of my life and still the only role I never auditioned for, which is strange because voice actors spend their life auditioning and being rejected most of the time,' Downes said.

Downes said in the clip he enjoyed interacting with fans at conventions. 

'It’s a positive feedback loop; you give to me and I give back to you,' Downes said. 'After all, I’m living a childhood dream; what little boy or girl growing up didn’t dream of being a superhero?'