Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America香蕉视频直播檚 food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald香蕉视频直播檚 for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died. He was 53.

Spurlock died Thursday in New York from complications of cancer, according to a statement issued Friday by his family.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,香蕉视频直播� Craig Spurlock, who worked with him on several projects, said in the statement. 香蕉视频直播淢organ 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.香蕉视频直播�

Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film 香蕉视频直播淪uper Size Me,香蕉视频直播� which was nominated for an Academy Award. The film chronicled the detrimental physical and psychological effects of Spurlock eating only McDonald香蕉视频直播檚 food for 30 days. He gained about 25 pounds, saw a spike in his cholesterol and lost his sex drive.

香蕉视频直播淓verything香蕉视频直播檚 bigger in America,香蕉视频直播� he said in the film. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got the biggest cars, the biggest houses, the biggest companies, the biggest food, and finally: the biggest people.香蕉视频直播�

In one scene, Spurlock showed kids a photo of George Washington and none recognized the Founding Father. But they all instantly knew the mascots for Wendy香蕉视频直播檚 and McDonald香蕉视频直播檚.

The film grossed more than $22 million on a $65,000 budget and preceded the release of Eric Schlosser香蕉视频直播檚 influential 香蕉视频直播淔ast Food Nation,香蕉视频直播� which accused the industry of being bad for the environment and rife with labor issues.

Spurlock with 香蕉视频直播淪uper Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� a sober look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. He focused on two issues: chicken farmers stuck in a peculiar financial system and the attempt by fast-food chains to deceive customers into thinking they香蕉视频直播檙e eating healthier.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e at an amazing moment in history from a consumer standpoint where consumers are starting to have more and more power,香蕉视频直播� he told The Associated Press in 2019. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not about return for the shareholders. It香蕉视频直播檚 about return for the consumers.香蕉视频直播�

Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music, blending a Michael Moore-ish camera-in-your-face style with his own sense of humor and pathos.

香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to be able to lean into the serious moments. I wanted to be able to breathe in the moments of levity. We want to give you permission to laugh in the places where it香蕉视频直播檚 really hard to laugh,香蕉视频直播� he told the AP.

After he exposed the fast-food and chicken industries, there was an explosion in restaurants stressing freshness, artisanal methods, farm-to-table goodness and ethically sourced ingredients. But nutritionally not much had changed.

香蕉视频直播淭here has been this massive shift and people say to me, 香蕉视频直播楽o has the food gotten healthier?香蕉视频直播� And I say, 香蕉视频直播榃ell, the marketing sure has,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he said.

Not all his work dealt with food. Spurlock made documentaries about and the geeks and fanboys at Comic-Con. One of his films looked at life behind bars at the Henrico County Jail in Virginia.

With 2008香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播淲here in the World is Osama bin Laden?香蕉视频直播� Spurlock went on a global search to find the al-Qaida leader, who was killed in 2011. In 香蕉视频直播淧OM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,香蕉视频直播� Spurlock tackled questions of product placement, marketing and advertising.

香蕉视频直播淏eing aware is half the battle, I think. Literally knowing all the time when you香蕉视频直播檙e being marketed to is a great thing,香蕉视频直播� Spurlock told AP at the time. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people don香蕉视频直播檛 realize it. They can香蕉视频直播檛 see the forest for the trees.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪uper Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!香蕉视频直播� was to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 but it was shelved at the height of the #MeToo movement when Spurlock came forward to detail his own history of sexual misconduct.

He confessed that he had been accused of rape while in college and had settled a sexual harassment case with a female assistant. He also admitted to cheating on numerous partners. 香蕉视频直播淚 am part of the problem,香蕉视频直播� he wrote.

香蕉视频直播淔or me, there was a moment of kind of realization 香蕉视频直播� as somebody who is a truth-teller and somebody who has made it a point of trying to do what香蕉视频直播檚 right 香蕉视频直播� of recognizing that I could do better in my own life. We should be able to admit we were wrong,香蕉视频直播� he told the AP.

Spurlock grew up in Beckley, West Virginia. His mother was an English teacher who he remembered would correct his work with a red pen. He graduated with a BFA in film from New York University in 1993.

He is survived by two sons 香蕉视频直播� Laken and Kallen; his mother Phyllis Spurlock; father Ben; brothers Craig and Barry; and former spouses Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein, the mothers of his children.

___

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press