In a recent development, Susan Sarandon, the Academy Award-winning actress, has been let go by United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading Hollywood agency.
The decision was taken in the wake of Sarandon's contentious remarks suggesting that American Jews are experiencing what it feels like to be a Muslim. A spokesperson from UTA confirmed to Fox News Digital that Sarandon is no longer represented by the agency.
Sarandon made these controversial comments during a pro-Palestinian rally held in New York City on November 17. She urged the protesters to engage in dialogues with Jewish Americans, many of whom have expressed their fear and insecurity due to the surge in antisemitism following the Hamas terror attack on October 7.
"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," Sarandon stated.
Her remarks sparked a significant backlash, including a response from Asra Nomani, a Muslim American writer and education activist. Nomani took to X to share a detailed thread about how her parents enjoyed a life of freedom and opportunity in the United States, a life they would not have had in a Muslim country.
"This is a taste of life for a Muslim family in America. Please dont minimize the experience of Jewish Americans by sanitizing the hell that it is for Muslims living in Muslim countries and vilifying America for the life and freedoms she offers Muslims like my family. Go, live like a Muslim woman in a Muslim country," Nomani wrote, adding, "You will come back to America and kiss the land beneath your feet."
The United States has witnessed a significant increase in antisemitism, especially on college campuses, following the attack on Israel. Hollywood has faced criticism from numerous A-list actors, TV showrunners, and producers for its reluctance to comment on the issue, despite its readiness to engage with other political matters.
"I honestly dont know what theyre afraid of. Losing, I dont know, followers? I mean, its just insane to me," Julianna Margulies, star of "The Morning Show," told Variety. She continued, "Listen, the last thing I thought in my life was that Id be the one actress speaking out for Jews. But Im proud to be here, and I hope I inspire other people to come out and talk and use their voice and use their platform to draw attention to this."
In a related incident, Maha Dakhil, a top Hollywood agent, resigned from her leadership role at Creative Artists Agencys internal board and stepped down as co-head of the motion picture department after sharing anti-Israel posts. Despite her resignation, she will continue to serve her clients at the agency.
Dakhil reposted an Instagram story in October that read, "Youre currently learning who supports genocide." She added her own comments, "That's the line for me," and posted another picture captioned, "Whats more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening."
She later deleted the posts and admitted to making a "mistake" in reposting the Instagram story. "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," she told Variety in a statement. "Im so grateful to Jewish friends and colleagues who pointed out the implications and further educated me. I immediately took the repost down. Im sorry for the pain I have caused."
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