Celebrities using their platforms to voice concerns for ongoing issues in the world is nothing new. However, facing career consequences for them is out of the ordinary.

On Oct. 7, 2023, a Hamas-led terror attack on Israel propelled the Gaza conflict further into the world stage and has caused voices to surge with strong pushback.

Fresh off of the combined WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and with such strong opinions presenting seemingly irreconcilable fractures for Hollywood, what is the path forward?

Posts and Pushback

Actors sharing their opinions have been met with mixed reactions as they make sense of the horrors facing those in Israel and Palestine. A group of 55 actors have signed an open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. In part, the letter reads, “We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor 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.”

Another letter to Biden, signed by 350 entertainers part of Artists4Ceasefire reads, “We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others. Saving lives is a moral imperative. To echo UNICEF, ‘Compassion — and international law — must prevail.’”

“Scream” star Melissa Barrera was promptly fired from the franchise for sharing and reposting strongly worded statements in support of Palestine on her Instagram stories. One Spyglass representative said they were interpreted as “antisemitic.” Though the specific post, speculated to have been antisemitic, called out “Western media” and made no direct mention of Jewish people.

Barrera stood steadfast by her statements after the firing, saying, “Silence is not an option for me.”

Soon after, co-star Jenna Ortega dropped out of the upcoming “Scream VII” due to a scheduling conflict, leaving the future of the revitalized and lucrative series in doubt. Barrera’s firing was met with online backlash. Over 1300 actors and performers, part of Artists For Palestine UK, signed a letter condemning Barrera’s firing and “censorship” of those speaking in support of Palestine.

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon spoke at a Pro-Palestine rally on Nov. 17, saying, “There are a lot of people that are afraid, that are 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.”

United Talent Agency dropped Sarandon after the rally and she later walked back her earlier statement in an Instagram post saying, “It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.”

Steven Spielberg shared his thoughts in a statement from the USC Shoah Foundation. The award-winning director set up the foundation in 1994 to combat rising antisemitism.

“I never imagined I would see such unspeakable barbarity against Jews in my lifetime,” Spielberg’s statement read. 

Comedians Sarah Silverman and Amy Schumer, and “Stranger Things” star Noah Schnapp each have shared pro-Israel and anti-Palestine statements on social media. They were promptly met with intense online backlash for tone-deaf sentiments. Schumer, Israeli actress Gal Gadot and dozens more celebrities also wrote a letter to Biden calling for the swift return of hostages taken by Hamas, setting up the website NoHostageLeftBehind.

Decisions, Divisions

Why should entertainers feel obligated to speak about conflicts half a world away as though they are the arbiters of justice? Conflict is not going to be solved through social media posts. Still, voices have been raised, some louder than others, decrying and uplifting others. And maybe there will be tangible action spurned on because of it.

Actor Brian Cox recently read Palestinian poet and English Professor Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” poem for the Palestine Festival of Literature. In the poem, the speaker imagines what will come after his death.

The full line is, “If I must die / you must live / to tell my story” and the final lines are, “If I must die / let it bring hope / let it be a tale.” Alareer, his brother, sister and four of her children were killed by an Israeli airstrike that destroyed their home on Dec. 6.

Not to do a disservice to the severity of this conflict by “bothsidesing,” but the one thing that must be agreed on is what these statements all have in common: if humanity can be recognized in one people, then it can and must be recognized in another.

To support civilians in Gaza, please donate to these vetted charities.

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@apm_andre