In 2004, documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock shook the fast-food world with his exposé, ‘Super Size Me.’
Going viral was far from a thing back then. But THAT documentary went triple platinum in health classes and made global headlines! The film showed a man, aka Morgan, exclusively eating at McDonald’s for a month. His goal was to show the “dangers” of a fast-food diet.
Now, 20 years later, Morgan Spurlock has passed away. He was 53, per the Associated Press. According to a statement his family issued on Friday (May 24), Spurlock died Thursday in New York from complications of cancer.
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“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” Craig Spurlock, who worked with him on several projects, said in the statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
More About The ‘Super Size Me’ Filmmaker’s Life & Career
After releasing the ground-breaking ‘Super Size Me,’ Morgan Spurlock spun the block on the topic with ‘Super Size Me 2″ Holy Chicken!’ The part-two film was an eye-opening look at an industry that processes nine billion animals a year in America.
Since he exposed the fast-food and chicken industries, many restaurants have shifted to stressing freshness, artisanal methods, farm-to-table goodness, and ethically sourced ingredients. However, per AP, not much has changed nutritionally.
“There has been this massive shift and people say to me, ‘So has the food gotten healthier?’ And I say, ‘Well, the marketing sure has,’ Morgan told the AP in 2019.
Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His documentary style included zippy graphics and amusing music. He blended a camera-in-your-face style with his own sense of humor and tragedy.
Rest in peace, Morgan!
Associated Press reporter Mark Kennedy contributed to this report.
