The film created controversy in the Netherlands and director Theo van Gogh was ultimately killed because of it. On 2 November 2004, Van Gogh was assassinated in Amsterdam in public by Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch-Moroccan Muslim with a Dutch passport. First he shot Van Gogh, then he cut his throat and finally he affixed a letter to Van Gogh's body with a dagger. In the text he linked the murder to Van Gogh's film and his views regarding Islam.
The co-producer of Van Gogh's Column Productions has withdrawn the film from distribution and refused to give anyone permission to screen it.