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The Israel-Hamas war and the US government’s response has divided Hollywood’s biggest stars, with well-known celebrities backing competing open letters and taking different stances on how to end the crisis.
Solidarity has been a key word among actors since the Hollywood strike began in July, but fractures across the entertainment industry are beginning to show, as splits between actors, writers, agents and unions intensify.
Hollywood stars are often considered moral arbiters during times of crisis. But the Israel-Hamas war has them divided.Credit: Compiled by Monique Westermann.
Two different open letters were penned following the October 7 Hamas raid into Israel and the subsequent bombing of Gaza by the Israeli government. Each was signed by two distinct groups of Hollywood figures – with one generally regarded as being more supportive of the Israeli government and the other more sympathetic to the plight of Palestinians.
On October 12, prominent stars including Gal Gadot (who served in the Israel Defence Forces for two years), Bradley Cooper, Madonna, Courteney Cox, Jerry Seinfeld, Jamie Lee Curtis and Aubrey Plaza signed a letter calling on US President Joe Biden to focus on freeing Israeli hostages held by Hamas, while thanking him for his efforts so far. The letter was published by Creative Community for Peace, which describes itself as a non-profit organisation, whose mission is to “educate about rising antisemitism within the entertainment industry, and to galvanise support against the cultural boycott of Israel”.
“We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently … freedom for the hostages,” the letter read.
The second open letter, which was signed by celebrities including Dua Lipa, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo and America Ferrera, urged Biden to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, proposals that were absent from the first letter.
Dua Lipa has added her name to an open letter to President Joe Biden calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza.Credit: Invision/AP
“We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honour all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages,” stated the letter, which was created by Hollywood insider group, Artists4Ceasefire.
The Biden administration has not yet publicly responded to either of these letters, both of which continue to gain signatories from across the industry.
The second letter emphasises the loss of life in Gaza as a result of the Israeli bombing campaign.
Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose members recently ended their 148-day strike, was sent an open letter signed by 22 members condemning the guild for not commenting on the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The writers pointed to the fact that SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, and the Directors Guild of America both issued statements, while also noting that the WGA has previously issued statements supporting causes such as Black Lives Matter.
The WGA West issued an apology to its members on Tuesday, whilst explaining that the guild usually tries to avoid taking a stance on international tragedies.
“It can be an imprecise science for a labor union to pick and choose where it weighs in on both domestic and world affairs,” its statement read. “However, we understand this has caused tremendous pain, and for that, we are truly sorry.”
Other Hollywood figures have used social media to share their views, with sometimes damaging consequences. Talent agent Maha Dakhil, who represents stars like Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman and Madonna, resigned from the Creative Artists Agency’s internal board last week after making comments on social media that publicly criticised Israel. Dakhil later apologised via a statement made to Variety.
High-profile celebrities have made gaffes online, including Justin Bieber, who posted the caption “praying for Israel” alongside a now-deleted photo of a decimated building in the Gaza Strip. Jamie Lee Curtis had to apologise after posting a photo of Palestinian children accompanied by a caption that included the Israeli flag.
And when Kylie Jenner shared a now-deleted post from a pro-Israel account alongside the caption, “Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!” she lost about 800,000 Instagram followers in just two weeks.
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