Serge Nivelle
Outspoken actress Susan Sarandon has apologized extensively for her recent controversial comments in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict at a pro-Palestinian rally last month.
The Oscar-winning actress, who shared her apology on her Instagram account, began her statement by saying, “Recently, I attended a rally alongside a diverse group of activists calling attention to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and wanted to call for a ceasefire. “I had no plans to speak, but was invited to go on stage and say a few words.”
The statement continued: “To express my concern about the rise in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, the targets of increasing anti-Semitic hatred, “so often get a glimpse of what it is like to be Muslims in this country to be ‘subjected to violence,'” Sarandon continued. “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. It was my intention to show solidarity in the fight against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry that I failed to do so.”
Sarandon concluded her remarks by saying she would continue her commitment to “peace, truth, justice and compassion for all people.”
“I hope that we can approach each other with love and a willingness to dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree,” the statement ended.
Sarandon had attended a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City on November 17, where she drew widespread criticism for a public speech in which she said: “A lot of people are afraid of being Jewish right now and are just getting it a taste of what it means to feel like a Muslim in this country.”
The actress was also fired from her agency, United Talent Agency.