Why Are Jewish Celebrities in Hollywood So Afraid to Talk About Antisemitism? (Opinion)

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I love Jesse Eisenberg.

From his remarkable performances in films like “Roger Dodger” and “The Squid and the Whale“, moving on to his restless portrayals in movies such as “The Social Network” and “The End of the Tour“, and interviews with me and many others, he’s consistently been a burst of dynamism. Few celebrities put in as much effort to provide an honest response or manage to sneak in a delightfully dry wit like he does.

However, I find Jesse Eisenberg’s behavior perplexing as well. Despite his film, A Real Pain, potentially winning Oscars for screenplay and supporting actor on Sunday, he has been hesitant to discuss current antisemitism in interviews, especially during his appearances on The Daily Show and Fresh Air.

Personally, he doesn’t appear to view the Holocaust as an incident primarily targeting Jews. Instead, I believe my family perceives it as a stark reminder of humanity’s capacity for cruelty towards one another, rather than a cautionary tale about what people can do specifically to Jews. This perspective aligns with my own worldview and that of my parents. As I shared during my interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, this is how we see the Holocaust – a grim reminder of human capacity for harm, not just a Jewish tragedy.

Upon resuming my Hollywood coverage last year following several years focused on other topics, I expressed to friends my immense gratitude for being back. Having spent time in environments where discussing Jewish identity wasn’t always accepted, it was such a relief, I noted, to be immersed in a world that embraced it. After all, this is the realm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and UJA events, as well as the Shoah Foundation (even though, as I learned several years ago, not always an inclusive space for an Academy museum). One might assume that Jews within this industry would feel at ease discussing contemporary Jewish matters, many of which held significant relevance following October 7, 2023, wouldn’t they?

Despite encountering unease, it was evident when Ye released a series of antisemitic posts and subsequently peddled swastika merchandise on a national platform two weeks ago, a small group of Jewish entertainers voiced their concerns, as reported by a well-known pro-Jewish account’s thread: Charlie Puth, Isla Fisher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Savage, Michael Rapaport, and of course David Schwimmer. Their actions were commendable. However, what stood out was the lack of response from many others. It wasn’t until an Israeli provocateur deepfaked several of them protesting Ye that Scarlett Johansson felt compelled to comment – and she did so to denounce the deepfake.

In the video, a well-known personality appearing was Adam Sandler. Sandler, through his heartfelt portrayals in songs like “The Chanukah Song” and movies such as “Eight Crazy Nights” and “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah,” has significantly popularized Judaism among a broad audience. It’s hard to find a Jew over 35 who he hasn’t inspired with pride, particularly through “The Chanukah Song.” However, the AI version of Sandler serves as a stark reminder of how little the actual one has spoken up recently.

During periods when Jewish identity is under attack from multiple angles, there are scarcely any well-known figures in entertainment – who usually champion various other causes – that feel motivated to safeguard it. Meanwhile, as more unattached Jews have started exploring their Jewish roots personally, their high-profile counterparts in Hollywood have been reluctant to share their own stories of self-discovery. The instances where they do speak out are generally critical; for example, when Eisenberg discussed Jewish identity during a Fresh Air interview, he criticized his withdrawal from Hebrew school and disliked modern suburban bar mitzvahs because they celebrated a 13-year-old for achieving something significant by learning just a few seconds of Hebrew.

Many Jewish entertainers appear reluctant or lack the initiative to explore Jewish significance, or express their Jewish identity openly. Instead, when a contemporary Jewish issue arises, they tend to respond like a student who hasn’t read the assigned book in class – they lower their gaze and anxiously wait for someone else to be chosen.

Or:

Numerous Jewish entertainers seem hesitant or unwilling to delve into Jewish significance or openly declare their Jewish identity. In situations where a current Jewish matter comes up, they react similarly to a student who hasn’t read the class book – they look away and nervously hope that someone else will be addressed next.

Over the past year, there has been an increase in anti-Semitic statements and actions across various political spheres. Figures such as Candace Owens, Jackson Hinkle, and Andrew Tate have spread hate on social media, while demonstrators at American colleges have displayed swastikas. Elon Musk appeared to make a Nazi salute at an inauguration, and Steve Bannon mimicked the same gesture at CPAC. Despite these clear displays of hostility, it’s surprising that many prominent Jewish celebrities have been reluctant to issue a condemnation.

There exists “The Brigade,” a group that refers to itself as a strong community of influential figures in entertainment and media, including high-profile celebrities, publicists, producers, writers, marketers, agents, analysts, lawyers, and artists. This group is focused on ensuring the future of Jewish communities worldwide. On Monday, they publicly criticized the contentious pins that Artists4Ceasfefire planned to distribute at the Oscars. It’s great to see Hollywood figures advocating for Jewish causes. However, their anonymous approach raises concerns. Why should supporting Jewish issues be something done in secret?

It’s important to note that no celebrity has a debt to anyone. However, in times of great moral importance, particularly for Jewish communities, antisemitic voices seem to be growing louder while those standing up against antisemitism appear to be becoming less vocal. The danger in this situation is evident without needing extensive historical knowledge.

Celebrities don’t owe anyone anything. But right now, when it matters a lot for Jewish people, hate speech against Jews is getting louder while those who speak out against it seem to be quieting down. This can be very dangerous and it’s easy to see why without knowing a lot about history.

Debra Messing, who recently created a documentary titled “October 8” focusing on the horseshoe theory of antisemitism, has been one of the rare and highly respected exceptions in Hollywood for speaking out consistently against anti-Semitic sentiments over the past year and a half. Like Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfeld, and others, she has often encountered criticism for doing so. Messing’s courage is evident since her stand at a pro-Jewish and pro-Israel rally in Washington D.C. in November 2023, where she addressed the crowd saying, “I know you feel isolated and deserted by those you thought were friends… I understand because I do too.” It’s worth pondering why such actions are so uncommon that they elicit such admiration.

Recently, some powerful expressions of Jewish pride have surprisingly emerged from non-Jewish individuals. For instance, Tim Fehlbaum, the director of the September 5 movie set in the 1970s, has courageously included a Jewish character who candidly discusses his struggles with the Holocaust, and more significantly, in interviews, he openly addresses this character’s challenges.

Today, we’re witnessing a remarkable era for Jewish representation on screen. Although a study published by USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center’s Media Impact Project in December revealed that just 18% of the 108 Jewish TV characters from 2021 to 2022 explicitly acknowledged their Judaism, there have been numerous significant instances. Following the acclaimed series Shtisel, we’ve noticed strong expressions of Jewish identity across various platforms. This can be seen in the main character dealing with antisemitism in the 2023 Best Picture nominee The Fabelmans, postwar Jews deciding to relocate to Israel in The Brutalist, or the religiously conflicted Asher Wolk on ABC’s The Good Doctor. Despite creators feeling compelled to end his character in an unexpected antisemitic attack at the end of last season.

As a gamer, I’d rather leave discussions about personal identity and condemnation of harmful remarks to those more equipped to handle such sensitive matters directly. Let’s let the experts take the lead on this one.

The extent of this matter became clear to me when, during a pre-award show interview several months ago, I questioned Hannah Einbinder – known for singing the Zionist anthem “Jerusalem of Gold” in her HBO special and who had a menorah visible on Zoom – about any changes she may have experienced as an openly Jewish individual over the past year.

It was difficult to discuss her being Jewish, taking multiple tries and various tactics to avoid the topic. When asked directly, she responded negatively, suggesting that she didn’t see any changes in this regard.

Despite Einbinder’s history of openly displaying her Jewish identity on high-profile events and frequently addressing it in her comedy, she appeared reluctant to acknowledge any shift – even in a period when offensive anti-Semitic stereotypes have become more mainstream. (You can find some insights into this matter here.)

As I pen these words, emaciated Jews are publicly displayed for cameras, forced to kiss the rings of their oppressors, while Jewish children who were held captive are being buried. This tragic scene tragically echoes the same chilling horror that A Real Pain is meant to remember. However, it appears that those associated with this film, as well as many other award-winning movies, fail to acknowledge the disturbing parallel. And no, the rarity of such events compared to the 1940s does not excuse this silence; what makes people believe that such timeless atrocities have been kept at bay all these years if not through persistent vocal activism?

At the Oscars this Sunday, you likely won’t hear many Jewish winners discussing the challenges faced by Jews or emphasizing the significance of being Jewish. It would feel quite unusual if someone did so now. However, it’s quite common for a winner of Latino, Black, or Asian descent to discuss the importance of their identity. Yet, in today’s context, talking about one’s Jewishness is seldom brought up in such settings.

I can’t explain why I feel this way, but it doesn’t matter. Self-loathing, suspicion, apathy, fear of being judged for my Jewish identity – none of these things are important. Let sociologists try to understand the reasons behind them. What truly matters is for every Jewish or open-minded non-Jewish person to encourage a multitude of voices sharing their experiences and feelings about what it means to be Jewish, and standing up against any attempts to undermine those meanings.

To put it simply, if you’re planning to create a film about a Jew in Poland or a song about Jews in Jerusalem, it would only be fair that you openly identify yourself as Jewish within the Hollywood community.

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2025-03-02 09:55