After investigating cryptocurrency, Ben McKenzie knows a thing or two about smart money habits, which is why he considers his marriage to Morena Baccarin his “best investment.”
“You’re gonna think this is cheesy, but it’s my relationship with my wife,” McKenzie, 47, exclusively told Us while promoting his documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which is available worldwide in a ticketed live virtual screening event.
McKenzie expressed gratitude for Baccarin, 47, adding, “It is so hard in life to do it on your own … I’m just deeply grateful for meeting her and for her being brave enough, foolish enough, to marry me. Best investment, by far.”
The actor noted that Baccarin’s support extended to his work — including Everyone Is Lying to You for Money.
“Morena is so fantastic in the movie … she’s kind of a surrogate for every woman in the world,” he continued. “Because I cannot tell you how many women have told me that they have some guy who keeps telling them about crypto — it’s a very male phenomenon.”
McKenzie continued: “So, Morena’s interest in crypto is zero, as is my kids’, but she has been so gracious and so supportive letting me do this crazy thing.”
The couple, who have been married since 2017, have collaborated on several projects over the years. Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which will be available to stream soon, hits close to home as it explores the cryptocurrency industry.
The film was self-financed by McKenzie, who directed, wrote, produced and starred in the documentary as part of research for the 2023 book Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud.
“I hope people will be entertained. Everyone knows somebody who’s invested in cryptocurrency, but the point of the doc is not really to speak to [the] five to six percent of the population that’s really into it,” he detailed to Us. “The point is to speak to the rest of us, the 80-plus percent of the country that’s never bought crypto. The vast majority of the public is very skeptical of it, because all they read about is the crime and the corruption and the people who lose their money.”
Ben McKenzie Victor Pena
As a cryptocurrency skeptic and critic, McKenzie was hoping to start a conversation.
“I want to express to those people that it’s not you, it’s them. We’re in a bad place right now where crypto has worked its way into our system via the president’s newfound love of crypto and dismantling of regulation and all of that,” he continued. “That’s very dangerous, but we do have the power, if we hold our representatives to account, to change the tide of history and to put this thing back in its place where it belongs.”
Ahead of Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’s traditional VOD release, McKenzie and production company The Forge worked with Eventive — a ticketing and streaming platform with a focus on making independent film accessible without a paid subscription.
McKenzie was joined by Baccarin at a ticketed live virtual screening and Q&A event as Everyone Is Lying to You for Money was made available to ticketholders any time through September 6.
“You are not dumb for not understanding crypto,” McKenzie continued. “They try to make it sound complicated to confuse you. It’s just a scam, it’s just a mania, it’s just a crime and we don’t have to put up with it.”
Everyone Is Lying to You for Money is available on demand here until September 6.
