Actor John Leguizamo has stirred controversy with a bold claim about European colonization and its impact on Latin America.

During an appearance on the One Nightstand podcast, Leguizamo argued that European powers stole vast amounts of gold from Latin people, an act he described as catastrophic cultural and economic devastation.

“The cultural annihilation that happened to Latin people is the worst in the history of the world,” he said, emphasizing what he viewed as centuries of exploitation and loss.

Leguizamo continued, “The theft of all our wealth and gold. And our gold funded the second half of the Renaissance … 500,000 tons of gold that was taken from us.”

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He questioned why Latin people have faced enduring social and economic challenges, linking them to what he called systemic oppression spanning hundreds of years.

“You wonder, like, here we are, Latin people, 500 years after the conquest, and where are we? Why aren’t we further up in the food chain? And then you start to understand all the practices and oppression that goes into keeping people down. It makes you angry,” he added.

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However, historical and scientific data cast doubt on the accuracy of Leguizamo’s figures.

According to the World Gold Council, approximately 219,890 tonnes of gold have been mined throughout human history, with around two-thirds of that total extracted since 1950.

Gold mining dates back to ancient times, but the total volume ever produced is relatively small compared to Leguizamo’s claim.

The Council notes that nearly all the gold ever mined still exists, since the metal is virtually indestructible.

To illustrate, if every ounce of gold ever mined were placed together, it would form a cube measuring roughly 22 meters on each side, a surprisingly modest amount for such a valuable element.

This means the entirety of the world’s historical gold output falls far short of the 500,000-ton figure cited by the actor.

Leguizamo’s comments come as he prepares to star in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic 'The Odyssey,' where he will take on a prominent role.

The actor, who has long been vocal about Latino representation in Hollywood, has previously criticized the industry for systemic bias.

Last year, he accused Hollywood of maintaining what he called a “Jim Crow for Latinos” climate, arguing that he had to fight against stereotypes throughout his early career.

While Leguizamo’s remarks about gold theft prompted strong reactions, they also fit a broader pattern of his outspoken commentary about history, culture, and social equity.

His statements continue to provoke discussion about the ways historical narratives intersect with modern identity, even as factual disputes over data spark debate.

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