Dean Cain’s Embarassing ICE Training Routine Causes Online Mockery

Dean Cain, an actor best known for portraying Superman in the 1990s television series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” is once again in the public spotlight, but not for his acting. Cain has begun training to join US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and a recently published video of his training routine has unleashed a torrent of criticism and mockery across social media platforms .

Oh man. Embarrassing for Dean Cain.

ICE posting his training session like it’s some kind of “Man of Steel” flex. Although it tracks with the incompetent, undertrained ICE agents we’re seeing on the streets. pic.twitter.com/5Qb1mtxiFt

— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) August 23, 2025

The footage, initially shared via Instagram, documents Cain navigating an ICE obstacle course. The actor is seen struggling through basic physical challenges: jumping over a fence, crawling through a pipe, and dragging a heavy dummy . The video, which was meant to offer viewers a “behind-the-scenes” look at ICE officer preparation, quickly became fodder for online ridicule. Social media users questioned both the necessity and optics of a celebrity undertaking such training, with many labeling the routine “embarrassing” and “awkward” .

The backlash has not only targeted Cain’s athletic performance but has also reignited conversation around the intersection of celebrity, immigration enforcement, and public accountability. LGBTQ+ advocates and other social justice groups have voiced particular concern about Cain’s decision to align himself with ICE, an agency that has faced years of criticism for its treatment of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ immigrants and asylum seekers .

LGBTQ+ organizations have repeatedly highlighted the disproportionate dangers that transgender people and other LGBTQ+ asylum seekers face while in ICE custody, including increased risk of violence, harassment, and inadequate access to medical care . Cain’s public embrace of the agency has therefore been interpreted by many as a dismissal of these ongoing human rights concerns.

Cain’s training was conducted with the support of Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who appeared in some of the promotional materials. The agency’s willingness to welcome a celebrity, particularly one with a history of “anti-woke” commentary, is being interpreted by critics as an attempt to rehabilitate its public image and appeal to conservative audiences .

“It’s deeply troubling to see ICE use a celebrity platform to distract from their troubling record on LGBTQ+ rights and immigrant justice,” said an anonymous spokesperson from a national LGBTQ+ immigration advocacy group . “Visibility matters, and when public figures lend their image to controversial agencies, it can inadvertently minimize the real harm being done to vulnerable communities.”

This episode has sparked renewed debate about the responsibilities of public figures, especially those with large platforms, to act as allies to marginalized groups. LGBTQ+ advocates argue that true allyship requires a willingness to critically examine and, when necessary, challenge institutions that have a documented history of harming vulnerable people.

“The problem isn’t just that Dean Cain’s training routine was awkward,” said a prominent LGBTQ+ rights commentator in a recent social media post, “it’s that it represents a normalization of celebrity involvement in agencies whose practices remain deeply harmful to LGBTQ+ immigrants and asylum seekers” .

As the video continues to circulate and the backlash grows, many are watching to see how Cain and ICE will respond to criticism. Some LGBTQ+ organizations are calling for greater transparency and accountability from both the agency and public figures who choose to collaborate with it. The incident underscores the ongoing struggle for visibility, safety, and justice among LGBTQ+ immigrants, and raises urgent questions about the influence of celebrity in shaping public narratives on critical social issues.