US President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wave to the crowd on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Philadelphia, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Democratic National Convention kicked off July 25.
Hillary Clinton joins President Obama on stage at DNC
00:51 - Source: CNN

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Bradley Cooper played Chris Kyle in "American Sniper" film

Some people believed the actor was a Republican -- until they saw him at the DNC

CNN  — 

Every now and then, facts get a little mixed up with fiction.

Take the example of Bradley Cooper. The actor was at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Wednesday night – minding his own business – when he started trending on social media.

Not because of his beard and flowing hair, which made him look like a well-moisturized pirate with glistening skin. But that’s a whole other story.

Apparently, some people believed Cooper was a Republican, based on his riveting portrayal of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle in the blockbuster film, “American Sniper.”

Kyle was a right-wing icon who loved his weapons. He once said President Barack Obama’s gun control proposals were aimed at “trying to ban everything.”

A bunch of people may be confusing movies with real life, and are not amused that Cooper doesn’t mirror his character in the war movie.

How dare Cooper defy his movie persona and attend a Democratic convention? Cooper, who was in the film directed by Clint Eastwood? (Remember that awkward moment when Eastwood interviewed an invisible Obama at the GOP convention?)

Some even vowed to boycott his movies.

Hate to break it to you, but …

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But just like Cooper is not a gun-slinging raccoon from his role in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” he does not appear to be a Republican either. Cooper – and his beard – have donated to Democrats before.

So sure, Cooper played Kyle, the man who after several tours in Iraq, was killed by a former Marine in 2013 while shooting at a Texas gun range.

Sure, Cooper perfected a Texas twang to play the man who wrote about his many kills in the book, “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.”

But Cooper has a right to pick whatever political affiliation he chooses, no?

And he’s a Philly native. Can’t a man attend one of the biggest parties is his hometown in peace?

CNN’s Emily Smith contributed to this report