Agency drops star for controversial remarks about Israel
The ongoing conflict and subsequent brutal war between Palestine and Israel have elicited public reactions from many celebrities opposing the killing of civilians and the hindrance of humanitarian aid to those living in the Gaza Strip. However, these strong criticisms often face backlash, as recently demonstrated by a Hollywood star.
6:04 PM EST, November 22, 2023
Protests against the conflict are being organized across the globe. Several high-profile movie stars also vocalize their opposition to the conflict, one of the most prominent being 77-year-old Susan Sarandon, who recently encountered significant backlash due to her comments.
Agency Terminates Collaboration
Last week, the "Thelma & Louise" star attended a protest against the war in New York. A specific phrase from her speech caught listeners off guard: "In today's times, many people are afraid of being Jewish, and now they are finding out what it's like to be a Muslim in this country," she said.
According to the "PageSix" reporting portal, the staff of United Talent Agency found the actress's comments offensive, prompting the agency to terminate the ongoing partnership with Sarandon since 2014.
This year, the Oscar-winner for her role in Tim Robbins' 1995 film "Dead Man Walking," featured in two movies: Ángel Manuel Soto's "Blue Beetle" and the romantic comedy, "What is Love?" by Michael Jacobs.
Sarandon Continues to Stir Controversy
As reported in the "PageSix" article, Sarandon drew attention to herself again online days after the protest. On her profile on a specific platform, she shared a post suggesting that an Israeli helicopter had killed its citizens on October 7.
Sarandon further came under online scrutiny for endorsing posts that praised Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters. Waters has been frequently accused of anti-Semitism. "Despite attempts by the Israeli lobby to cancel the event, Roger Waters from Pink Floyd stepped on stage in Uruguay, donning a keffiyeh and advocating for an end to Israeli genocide in Gaza," wrote Sarandon.
Last year, she faced criticism for a now-deleted Twitter post where she compared police officers gathered at the funeral of slain New York police detective Jason River to fascists.
