Susan Sarandon apologized for controversial comments she made at a pro-Palestine rally in New York last month.
At the rally on November 17, the actor had said: “There are a lot of people who are afraid, who are afraid of being a Jew at this time and getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country “, so often subjected to violence.” UTA then dropped Sarandon as a customer because of these comments.
In a post on Instagram late Friday, Sarandon wrote, “It was my intention to show solidarity in the fight against bigotry of all kinds, and I’m sorry I failed to do so.”
“Recently, I attended a rally alongside a diverse group of activists seeking to draw attention to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire,” Sarandon wrote. “I wasn’t planning on speaking, but I was invited to go on stage and say a few words.”
She continued: “To express my concern about the rise in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of increasing anti-Semitic hatred, are “getting a glimpse of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often is subjected to violence.’ This formulation was a terrible mistake because it implied that Jews were not victims of persecution until recently, when the opposite is true. As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence that continues to this day. I deeply regret that I trivialized this reality and hurt people with this comment.”
Sarandon concluded: “I will continue to advocate for peace, truth, justice and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet each other with love and a willingness to dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree.”
Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and the ensuing war between Israel and Hamas have exposed deep divisions in Hollywood.
In October, CAA agent Maha Dakhil resigned from the agency’s internal board after calling Israel’s response to Hamas attacks “genocide” and subsequently apologizing. Melissa Barrera was fired from “Scream 7” by Spyglass Media Group because the actress posted on social media about the Israeli military attack on Gaza, which the production company said “flagrantly crossed the line into hate speech.” In a response Barrera released last week, she said, among other things: “I will continue to stand up for those who need it most and continue to advocate for peace and security, for human rights and freedom.” For me, silence is not Option.”
Read Sarandon’s post on Instagram: