Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon and Scream star Melissa Barrera have been dropped by Hollywood companies after making comments on the Israel-Hamas war that were deemed antisemitic.
Sarandon, who has a long history of activism, was dropped by her talent agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), after making comments about Israel at a pro-Palestinian rally in Los Angeles.
Barrera, who starred in the recent Scream reboot, was dropped by Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the upcoming Scream 7, after she posted statements on her Instagram Stories calling the war "genocide and ethnic cleansing."
Both Sarandon and Barrera have apologized for their comments, but the damage has been done. They have been widely criticized for their remarks, and their careers are now in jeopardy.
This is not the first time that Hollywood celebrities have been criticized for their political views. In 2019, actress Roseanne Barr was fired from the ABC sitcom The Conners after she posted a racist tweet about former White House aide Valerie Jarrett. And in 2020, actress Gina Carano was fired from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian after she made transphobic posts on social media.
It is clear that Hollywood is not afraid to punish celebrities for their political views. This is likely due to the fact that the entertainment industry is heavily reliant on public support. If the public perceives a celebrity to be offensive or controversial, it is likely that they will boycott their work.
This is a double-edged sword for Hollywood. On the one hand, it allows them to hold celebrities accountable for their actions. On the other hand, it can also lead to censorship and self-censorship.
It is important to have a open and honest discussion about the role of celebrities in society. Should they be allowed to use their platform to express their political views, even if those views are offensive to some people? Or should they be silenced in order to avoid offending people?
There is no easy answer to this question. However, it is important to have a conversation about it in order to make sure that we are not shutting down important dialogue.
In conclusion, Susan Sarandon and Melissa Barrera have been dropped by Hollywood companies after making comments on the Israel-Hamas war that were deemed antisemitic. This is not the first time that Hollywood celebrities have been criticized for their political views. It is important to have a open and honest discussion about the role of celebrities in society. Should they be allowed to use their platform to express their political views, even if those views are offensive to some people? Or should they be silenced in order to avoid offending people? There is no easy answer to this question. However, it is important to have a conversation about it in order to make sure that we are not shutting down important dialogue.