Why Hollywood Celebrities Won’t Talk About Antisemitism

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A news outlet finally asked one of the biggest questions haunting Hollywood.

An intriguing article at The Hollywood Reporter asks, “Why do many Famous Jewish Figures in Hollywood Shy Away from Discussing Antisemitism?

Over the past year and a half, the author delves into the less vocal Jewish figures that have emerged. Simultaneously, antisemitic sentiments have escalated to levels not witnessed for many years.

In 2008, Sarah Silverman was known for initiating “The Great Schlep” which supported Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. More recently, there was an incident where she mistakenly identified a common symbol as a swastika and raised concerns about it.

Now, as Jews are literally chased into an attic, she says nothing.

Stars who are not Jewish have similarly remained quiet on the matter, which is a topic worthy of further discussion as well.

Sadly, the author is either afraid to explore the answer or can’t bear to say it.

Here it is. It’s mostly political.

In Hollywood, advocating for Jewish people is often perceived as conservative and may make some stars uneasy. However, President Donald Trump has consistently stood by Israel’s side.

Say no more.

Modern progressivism can sometimes foster feelings against Israel, which at certain points have unintentionally approached anti-Semitic sentiments.

Examples?

  • President Joe Biden repeatedly clashed with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and held weapons from his country
  • Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign flirted with the Palestinian cause fearing they might alienate select voters in Michigan
  • Far-Left college protests harassed Jewish students with little attempts to control their excesses from Democratic city leaders or academia
  • Progressive film critics ignored “Screams Before Silence” while rallying behind the pro-Palestinian “From Ground Zero” documentary
  • Democrats like Rep. Ilhan Omar get zero pushback from the media, Hollywood and fellow Democrats for making heinous comments that reek of antisemitism

Gently criticizing Jesse Eisenberg, THR points out that he seems to be deliberately sidestepping accusations of antisemitism during his Oscar campaign for the movie “A Real Pain.” In this film, Eisenberg not only acts but also directs and co-writes a story about Jewish relatives traveling to Poland’s Majdanek extermination camp to trace their family history.

The movie presented Eisenberg with an ideal platform to delve into the topic, one that closely resonated with his cinematic work.

He preferred not to. Instead, he blasted tech giants like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

Stars often express their political views during award seasons, particularly when the themes of the films align with current issues.

Eisenberg hasn’t been open about this subject recently. This reticence has led The Hollywood Reporter to speculate more broadly within the entertainment industry.

When it comes to Jewish identity, there are numerous fronts where it’s under attack. Unfortunately, among the influential figures in the entertainment industry, who are quick to support various other issues, there aren’t many who feel moved to protect or speak up for this identity.

Exactly. But why?

The THR doesn’t provide solutions. Instead, consider the thunderous applause (and observe the standing ovation) on Oscar night for the Palestine-supportive documentary titled “No Other Land” on Sunday.

In this movie, they portray Israel’s response to the horrific October 7 attacks and the merciless ordeal of the Hamas hostage situation.

More applause. Says it all, no?

In simpler terms, many sectors within the industry strongly back the Palestinian issue, as do significant parts of the Democratic Party. So, why didn’t President Joe Biden intervene when college campuses were vandalized and Jewish students were intimidated?

Did we miss his Oval Office address blasting the vile, often violent protests?

During his 2020 presidential campaign launch, Biden claimed falsely that President Donald Trump endorsed neo-Nazis, stating they were “very fine people.” However, it was observed that Biden labeled these alleged Nazis as such only when it served his political purposes.

Furthermore, what’s the reason THR (The Hollywood Reporter) brought up Elon Musk’s unusual gesture on Inauguration Day, a gesture that is universally recognized as not having any connection to Nazism or being Nazi-adjacent?

The author is playing politics, too.

The THR essay downplays a situation it doesn’t want to admit exists. Instead of acknowledging the persistent, hate-filled marches against Jewish people on university campuses over an entire year, it describes these actions as “students displaying swastikas at American universities.

It was far more than that. The antisemitic chants alone chilled a nation.

Following the October 7th attacks, numerous Hollywood celebrities voiced their opinions in the ensuing weeks. However, over time, most of these stars seemed to retreat from their initial stances. They didn’t actively call for Hamas to free the hostages, nor did they publicly condemn the brutal attacks targeting Jewish students across various universities in the country.

They ignored how many hostage posters were ripped down by pro-Palestinian thugs.

It’s not for a lack of a bully pulpit.

Show after show, award ceremonies passed by without any celebrities seizing the spotlight to address antisemitism or criticize Hamas for their inhumane assaults and kidnapping methods during their speeches.

The 2024 drawing by Michael Rapaport, which called out Hollywood for their lack of response during the hostage crisis, still resonates strongly in today’s context.

When three presidents from Ivy League universities failed to speak out against violent demonstrators targeting Jews, their silence was nearly deafening.

In the face of thuggish protests that targeted Jews, the presidents of three Ivy League universities remained almost completely quiet.

Or simply: When protesters harassed Jews, the presidents of three Ivy League schools chose not to speak out, their silence was significant.

Again.

On Saturday Night Live, they portrayed the Republican who grilled the leaders mercilessly, while not the questionable scholars themselves, were subjected to mockery for their actions.

No show is as progressive as the modern-day “SNL.”

Members of the Democratic Party, together with their peers in established news outlets, showed reluctance to challenge hatred directly. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) was largely on his own in consistently advocating for Jewish communities.

Celebrities might fear that voicing opposition to antisemitism could potentially jeopardize their professional standing. Alternatively, it is concerning to consider that they may hold views partially aligned with the hostile actions.

Why continue the silence? What alternative reasoning could be plausible? It’s common for stars to voice their opinions on nearly every politically sensitive topic of the moment.

Why not this?

In a departure from typical Hollywood norms, actors such as Rapaport, Debra Messing, Patricia Heaton, and John Ondrasik have been vocal and persistent in addressing the escalating anti-Semitism within various cultural spheres.

Their bravery shames their colleagues.

Towards the closing moments of the extended Oscars event on Sunday, Adrien Brody, the Best Actor recipient, decided to voice his opinion. He denounced antisemitism, a significant aspect in his movie “The Brutalist,” yet he framed it within a larger critique of racism and the practice of exclusion or “othering.

Brody deserves enormous credit for saying the word aloud.

He also knew he couldn’t say it solo.

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2025-03-03 08:03