Among those who signed the new letter were Liev Schreiber, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mayim Bialik and Debra Messing.
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Jennifer Jason Leigh, Debra Messing, Mayim Bialik
(Photo: AP, Getty Images)
“We recognize the power of cinema. We recognize the power of storytelling. That’s why we cannot remain silent when a story is weaponized, when lies are disguised as justice, and when artists are deceived into becoming tools to amplify antisemitic propaganda,” the letter said. “The earlier statement promotes disinformation that supports arbitrary censorship and the erasure of art. Silencing voices that seek common ground and humanity is wrong, harmful and amounts to collective punishment.”
The letter was released by Creative Community for Peace and The Brigade in response to a declaration this month by the group “Film Workers for Palestine.” That statement, signed by Stone, Bardem, Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”), Gael García Bernal, Tilda Swinton and Amy Lou Wood (“The White Lotus”), pledged to refuse work with Israeli artists and institutions.
The new letter urges those signatories to reconsider. Additional names include Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, who was born in Israel, Sharon Osbourne, producer Greg Berlanti, Jerry O’Connell, Howie Mandel, Lisa Edelstein, Erin Foster, Anthony Edwards, Rebecca De Mornay, former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing and media mogul Haim Saban.
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Liev Schreiber
(Photo: Courtesy of Film Service Festival Karlovy Vary)
Messing, one of the letter’s most prominent voices, said in a statement: “When artists boycott other artists solely based on their country of origin, it is blatant discrimination and a betrayal of our role as storytellers. History has shown us that boycotts against Jews have long been tools of authoritarian regimes. By joining this effort, these artists are knowingly or unknowingly aligning themselves with a dark legacy of antisemitism.”
Bialik added: “Artists and creators have a unique opportunity and responsibility to remind the world of our shared humanity. A boycott of filmmakers, studios, production companies and individuals simply because they are Israeli fuels division and contributes to a troubling culture of marginalization. Moreover, this boycott pledge does nothing to end the war in Gaza, bring the hostages home or help curb the alarming rise of antisemitism around the world.”