The website Deadline reports that Susan Sarandon was fired from her agency after she made controversial comments during a pro-Palestine protest. At the same time, Melissa Barrera, who was supposed to star in Scream VII, was fired from filming, also because of her positions against Israel.
When Hollywood punishes its stars. The Deadline site reports two different stories, but linked by the same controversy: comments made in favor of the Palestinian cause. The very well-informed American media specializing in cinema reported on Tuesday, November 21st that actress Susan Sarandon, Oscar winner for 1996’s The Last March, was fired from her artist agency, United Talent Agency, after she had made controversial remarks during a demonstration for Palestine.
In particular, the actress said, “There are many people today who are afraid of being Jewish, and they are discovering what it is like to be Muslim in this country today.” She also shared a publication by Roger Waters on X (ex -Twitter), while the founder of Pink Floyd is regularly accused of anti-Semitism.
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Susan Sarandon is used to making her voice heard. The politically active New York star spoke out openly against the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is an ardent Bernie Sanders supporter. She also came under fire in 2019 after sharing a controversial report about the war in Syria.
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Melissa Barrera fired
The actress is not the only one suffering the consequences of her comments against Israel. Melissa Barrera, who was set to star in the film “Scream VII,” has been fired, Deadline reports again. On Instagram, she is very committed to the Palestinian cause and has questioned the Israeli government numerous times, referencing the deaths in Gaza while remembering how much she “loves her Jewish friends.”
Among the messages posted online, she wrote in particular: “Why can we classify an organization as terrorist but not a government that claims to be acting in self-defense?” Why are brown people terrorists but a white government is not? “For those who comment on my posts and say it is anti-Semitism: criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism.” Anti-Semitism discriminates against Jews. To criticize Israel is simply to criticize a government’s policies. “Israel is a country, not a person”, “I also come from a colonized country (Mexico, editor’s note).” Palestine will be free, they are trying to bury us, but they don’t know that we are seeds” , “Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp.” Everyone is gathered, there is nowhere to go, there is no electricity or water… people are silently watching everything that is happening. This is genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
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“Zero Tolerance”
The production company responsible for Scream VII, Spyglass Media, confirmed the young woman’s dismissal: “Spyglass makes it very clear: we do not tolerate anti-Semitism or incitement to hatred of any kind, including references to genocide or ethnic cleansing,” a recasting of the Holocaust or anything others that cross the line into hate speech.”
The online reactions were immediate. Many particularly point out the hypocrisy given the positions of other actors and actresses, this time in favor of Israeli politics, including the recent controversy sparked by Noah Schnapp. The Stranger Things star filmed himself in what looked like a restaurant having fun and laughing while holding up the words “Hamas is ISIS, Zionism is sexy.” Amy Schumer was also heavily attacked and accused of making Islamophobic and racist comments.
Facing fan anger, Scream VII director Christopher Landon responded in a now-deleted message. “Here’s my reaction: Everything sucks. Stop screaming. This decision does not come from me,” he wrote, accompanying his words with an emoji depicting a broken heart.
Hollywood is divided
With immense tension surrounding the war between Hamas and Israel, many stars took one side or the other, almost immediately sparking heated debates and insults online. Hollywood, which has always been known for the political involvement of some of its stars, is not spared from controversy.
Last month, Maha Dakhil, co-head of cinema at the Cinema Advertising Association, resigned from the agency’s board after she shared an Instagram post that said: “You’ll find out who supports genocide.”