Fired for Speaking Out: How Hollywood Punishes Artists for Calling Out Gaza “Genocide”
“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp, and just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen” says actress Melissa Barrera
For an industry that has long demonstrated a united front in the wake of various causes through the years, be it the ‘Black Lives Matter’, the ‘Me Too’ movement or advocating for the rights of LGBTQ communities, it seems the eruption of violence in the Middle East is dividing Hollywood, with those demonstrating a pro-Palestinian stance facing cancellation from production houses and agencies.
Veteran actress Susan Sarandon was recently dropped from her talent agency UTA after attending a pro-Palestine rally in New York earlier this month.
A frequent attendee of rallies and a supporter of the Palestinian cause, her particular statement on how Jewish people are ‘getting a taste of what it feels to be Muslim’ caused outrage.
The Oscar-winning actress encouraged others to speak against what she called war crimes. “People are questioning, people are standing up, people are educating themselves, people are stepping away from the brainwashing that started when they were kids,” said Sarandon at the rally.
Thanking “the Jewish community who’s come out to have our backs”, she encouraged the crowd to “stand with anyone who has the courage to speak out in your office, in your school, in your homes.”
According to the latest death toll, more than 14,532 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated at least 6000 children have been confirmed killed in the Israeli bombardment.
Worldwide protests and rallies, featuring people from all walks of life, have been demanding a ‘ceasefire’ as millions are taking to the streets questioning the shocking death toll and what human rights groups call atrocities by Israel since October 7th.
Over twenty United Nations independent experts reiterated their concerns about an ongoing genocide and a second Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the mass exodus of Palestinians following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
“Grave violations committed by Israel against Palestinians in the aftermath of 7 October, particularly in Gaza, point to a genocide in the making”, the UN experts said. The World Health Organization (WHO) had referred to one of Gaza’s largest hospitals Al Shifa Hospital as a death zone.
The word ‘genocide’ seems to have become a trigger for Hollywood, and there is a growing casualty list of those targeted for using it.
Marvel star Mark Ruffalo had to issue an apology in 2021 after suggesting Israel was committing genocide.
Undeterred in his support for the cause, the actor was one of 55 prominent artists and advocates who signed a letter in October directed to President Joe Biden, urging a ceasefire.
He also slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for saying Palestinians are “collateral damage”. In a post on X, he said: “No. Sorry. They are not “collateral damage” they are human beings who happen to have been born there and live there and most of those human beings are stuck there. Have some compassion, they are Palestinians not buildings or roads or things..”
A leading Hollywood agent was relieved of her duties recently for igniting a firestorm when she referred to the Gaza war as a denial of a ‘genocide’ happening.
Maha Dakhil, who worked as the co-chief of the motion pictures department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) said in one of her posts, “What’s more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening.”
While she deleted her posts, some of her colleagues accused her of being ‘antisemitic’, and called for stern action to be taken against her.
Dakhil has been removed as the head of the department but will continue to work as an agent.
Media reports say that she is being backed by one of her most famous clients - Tom Cruise, who reportedly went personally to attend a meeting with CAA, playing a role in mitigating the fallout.
CAA also reportedly dropped Saira Rao and Regina Jackson —co-authors of the popular 2022 book “White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better” — over their social media posts.
Rao had written on X, “Zionists are starting to panic that more and more of the world sees them for the bloodthirsty genocidal ghouls they are.”
And Hollywood’s intolerance towards criticizing Israel’s merciless bombing of Gaza and accusations of genocide has taken another scalp, popular horror franchise ‘Scream’ has just fired its leading star Melissa Barrera for her Instagram posts on the Gaza conflict.
The 33-year-old Mexican actress, who suggested Gaza is currently being treated like a “concentration camp”, wrote, "I have been actively looking for videos and information about the Palestinian side for the last 2 weeks or so, following accounts etc. Why? Because Western media only shows the other side. Why do they do that? I will let you deduce for yourself."
In another post, she states, “As we all wake up to what is (and has been) happening in Gaza and see it for what it is, it is very important to also understand: Just like all Palestinians are NOT Hamas, All Jewish people are NOT the Israeli Govt.”
Producers Spyglass released a statement on its decision, “We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
