Current:Home > NewsCharles Langston:Susan Sarandon dropped by talent agency following pro-Palestinian rally appearance, reports say -MoneyMatrix
Charles Langston:Susan Sarandon dropped by talent agency following pro-Palestinian rally appearance, reports say
Fastexy Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 06:36:04
Susan Sarandon was dropped as a client by a Hollywood talent agency after speaking out at a pro-Palestine rally over the weekend,Charles Langston according to multiple reports.
United Talent Agency reportedly cut ties with the Oscar-winning actress following comments she made on the Israel-Hamas conflict during a rally in New York City, an agency spokesperson confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and the Los Angeles Times.
At the rally, Sarandon reflected on the climate of fear the Jewish community is experiencing since the war between Israel and Palestinian militants began last month. "There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence," Sarandon said, according to footage obtained by the New York Post.
Since Oct. 7, the Anti-Defamation League, an advocacy group that frequently speaks out against antisemitism and extremism, has tracked 832 anti-Jewish acts in the United States.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Sarandon and United Talent Agency for comment.
According to The Guardian, Sarandon also encouraged others to have the "courage to speak out" in support of Palestinians: "People are questioning, people are standing up, people are educating themselves, people are stepping away from brainwashing that started when they were kids."
Israel's conflict with Palestinian militants escalated Oct. 7 after stunning and deadly surprise attacks by Hamas that coincided with a major Jewish holiday and the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It was one of the most significant attacks on Israel in decades, with militants infiltrating 22 towns and army bases.
Hamas launched a shocking attack against Israel – including the Nova music festival located a few miles from the Gaza Strip, where Hamas gunmen killed more than 260 revelers in the biggest civilian massacre in Israeli history, according to the Associated Press – on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. The attack led to retaliation by Israeli forces waging battle on the ground and with airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
Militants crashing across the border from Gaza on Oct. 7 killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took 240 people back as hostages, Israeli authorities say. Four hostages have been released and one was freed by Israeli troops. Israel's ensuing military campaign has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry says.
A number of celebrities have shown solidarity with Israel amid the conflict, including “Wonder Woman” actress Gal Gadot, who is Israeli and served in the Israel Defense Forces.
Stars on Israel-Hamas conflict:Gal Gadot, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian support Israel amid 'horrific' Palestinian conflict
In October, Hollywood agent Maha Dakhil resigned from the Creative Artists Agency internal board after making comments on social media regarding Israel. According to Variety, she also stepped down from leadership duties as co-head of the motion pictures department.
Dakhil represents A-list talent such as Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman and Madonna.
Dakhil reposted a statement from an Instagram account with the username @savesheikhjarrahnow and labeled Free Palestine, that read: "You’re currently learning who supports genocide."
Dakhil added her own statement, writing: "That’s the line for me." In another photo, she wrote: "What’s more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening."
Per Variety, the social media posts have since been deleted.
"I made a mistake with a repost in my Instagram story, which used hurtful language. Like so many of us, I have been reeling with heartbreak. I pride myself on being on the side of humanity and peace," Dakhil said in a statement to Variety. "I'm so grateful to Jewish friends and colleagues who pointed out the implications and further educated me. I immediately took the repost down. I’m sorry for the pain I have caused."
Hollywood reacts to Israel-Hamas war:Celebrities call for ceasefire, decry civilian deaths
Contributing: John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz, Maureen Groppe, Naledi Ushe, KiMi Robinson and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
veryGood! (172)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Hurricane Florence’s Unusual Extremes Worsened by Climate Change
- Jamie Foxx Is Out of the Hospital Weeks After Health Scare
- EPA Agrees Its Emissions Estimates From Flaring May Be Flawed
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- In county jails, guards use pepper spray, stun guns to subdue people in mental crisis
- Global Warming Is Destabilizing Mountain Slopes, Creating Landslide Risks
- Lori Vallow Found Guilty in Triple Murder Trial
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Man dies after eating raw oysters from seafood stand near St. Louis
Ranking
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Matty Healy Resurfaces on Taylor Swift's Era Tour Amid Romance Rumors
- Spring Is Coming Earlier to Wildlife Refuges, and Bird Migrations Need to Catch Up
- Taliban begins to enforce education ban, leaving Afghan women with tears and anger
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Elon Musk Reveals New Twitter CEO: Meet Linda Yaccarino
- Tots on errands, phone mystery, stinky sweat benefits: Our top non-virus global posts
- Eminem’s Daughter Hailie Jade Shares Details on Her and Fiancé Evan McClintock’s Engagement Party
Recommendation
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Taliban begins to enforce education ban, leaving Afghan women with tears and anger
Confusion and falsehoods spread as China reverses its 'zero-COVID' policy
Clean Energy May Backslide in Pennsylvania but Remains Intact in Colorado
California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
Kouri Richins, Utah author accused of killing husband, called desperate, greedy by sister-in-law in court
Joining Trend, NY Suspends Review of Oil Train Terminal Permit
Why Adam Levine is Temporarily Returning to The Voice 4 Years After His Exit