David Schwimmer Asks Jewish Hollywood Leaders to Speak Up Against Antisemitism: 'Stand Up'
David Schwimmer on Tuesday called on his fellow Jewish members of Hollywood to stand up against antisemitism.
Schwimmer made the comments during the Anti-Defamation League's annual Never Is Now conference in New York. Schwimmer has been vocal on the subject of antisemitism, previously asking Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X (formerly Twitter) over his antisemitic tirades and actions.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Why Are Jewish Celebrities in Hollywood So Afraid to Talk About Antisemitism? (Opinion)
Rachel Zegler's 'Snow White' Tracking for $53M Box Office Opening
Oscars: Harrison Ford, Zoe Saldaña, Samuel L. Jackson Join List of Presenters
'My career has given me an incredible platform, a chance to talk about the issues that matter to me, and on a good day, a chance to be heard over the noise that drowns too many people out,' Schwimmer said. 'I believe with that privilege comes a responsibility to use my voice in moments like this, at a time of danger, bigotry and violence.'
Schwimmer went on to acknowledge that 'speaking out often comes at a cost' and that 'like so many others, I've been attacked and threatened by people I've never met. I've been abandoned by people I thought were friends and by organizations I thought were allies, but I've also found amazing moments of meaning and solidarity, and I want to remind you that there are so many good people out there who have our backs, incredible allies that we can we will get through this together, that our spirit is unbreakable, our joy is irrepressible.'
He continued, 'I get that speaking out is hard. Plenty of people I respect, even some of my heroes in entertainment, music and sports, have chosen to keep a low profile and sit this one out, including some whose careers have been made by leaning into their Jewish identity, and others who have won acclaim for playing Jews on screen. Some of them are doing a lot behind the scenes, privately and in their own way, but so many have chosen not to say anything publicly at all. And if I can say something directly to them:I really wish you would.'
Schwimmer's call to action was met with cheers from the crowd, and he continued over the noise: 'I wish you would stand up. I wish you would speak out, because your voice would be so meaningful to your fans who love you, to your community members who need you, to folks who can use just a little solidarity right now.'
In reference to the Israel-Hamas war, Schwimmer said, 'No one's asking you to solve the conflict of the Middle East. Just say that you stand with your Jewish friends, colleagues and neighbors against hatredand what's happening on our college campuses and in our schools and to Jewish-owned businesses is totally unacceptable.'
He then referenced Elie Wiesel's quote, 'The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference,' adding, 'What is indifference? It's inaction. It's silence. Sometimes in moments of danger, it could feel like our only option is to stay quiet, to avoid drawing attention to ourselves, to hide. But here's the truth, now is not the time to disappear. Now is the time to show up, to reach out, to connect with one another, to find strength in our community and to raise up our voices together. Why don't we do that?'
Schwimmer concluded his speech by noting that Tuesday's conference would honor 'a group of people who are using their voices, their reach and their connections to share messages of hope and solidarity that spread around the world.'
The ADL's Never Is Now conference was hosted by Hen Mazzig, and ran March 3 and 4. Gal Gadot also delivered a keynote speech. She told the crowd, 'Most of us will never have experienced a worse time for antisemitism in our lifetimes, but we should feel safer knowing that the ADL has our backs.'
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More
Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
25 minutes ago
- UPI
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival canceled due to weather
Luke Combs was the only headliner able to perform before the rain came and caused the cancellation of this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 14 (UPI) -- This weekend's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn., has been canceled due to bad weather. "Bonnaroovians, we appreciate your patience & understanding last night," organizers wrote on social media Saturday morning. "The energy in Outeroo embodied the Bonnaroo spirit & lifted us all during a tough situation. As you start to pack up & make your way out this morning we have some helpful Info to get you off The Farm safely." The event was slated for Thursday through Sunday. The Hollywood Reporter said the Luke Combs was the only headliner to perform before the storms hit. Other artists booked for the event included Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, Vampire Weekend, GloRilla, Tyla, Raye, Avril Lavigne, Queens of the Stone Age, John Summit, Justice, Dom Dolla, Glass Animals and The Red Clay Strays.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mubi Responds to Backlash Over New Investor's Ties to Israeli Defense-Tech Startup
Mubi, the upstart distributor, streaming platform and production company that was recently valued at $1 billion and guided 'The Substance' to box office success and into the Oscars, has responded to backlash over its latest source of investment. At the end of May, it was announced that the company — which went on a buying spree at the recent Cannes Film Festival, snapping up rights to eight films in competition (including a $24 million splurge on the Jennifer Lawrence-Robert Pattinson starring 'Die My Love') — had secured a $100 million investment from Sequoia Capital. More from Variety Jim Jarmusch's 'Father Mother Sister Brother' Starring Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver Confirmed for Venice Competition, Says Mubi Boss Mubi Expands Theatrical Operations to Italy With Former Lucky Red Exec Gabriele D'Andrea in Charge Mubi Acquires Oliver Laxe's Cannes Competition Entry 'Sirât' for Italy, Turkey and India The Silicon Valley-based Sequoia has invested in a wide range of companies, including the likes of Apple, Google, ByteDance, Cisco, and Nvidia. Mubi marks a rare foray into entertainment. But Sequoia is also closely tied to Israelo defence-tech startup Kela, founded in July 2024 by four veterans of Israeli intelligence units in response to the terror attacks of Oct. 7 and more than six months into the invasion of Gaza. Kela is currently developing a battlefield operating system enabling militaries to integrate AI and commercial tech. According to Sequoia's website, it led Kela's $10 million seed funding round last year. In May of this year, Kela secured an additional $60 million in investment in a funding round also backed by Sequoia (alongside Lux Capital and In-Q-Tel, the investment arm of the CIA). Kela's total investment now stands at $100 million. 'The vision is two-fold: in the short term, to upgrade Israel's internal defense capabilities,' wrote Sequoia in a lengthy article about its business with Kela posted in March of this year. 'The company's initial focus is border protection, an urgent priority post-October 7th. In the long term, the ambition is to convert Israel into a defense tech hub for Western militaries—a source of strategic advantage for NATO and the U.S. as they seek to deter their adversaries.' Mubi receiving investment from a company with ties to the Israeli defense sector in the midst of Israel's deadly war in Gaza has fallen foul of some online critics. Several on social media have called for Mubi to be boycotted and have claimed that they've already canceled their subscriptions. A widely shared post on X said it was 'time to add @mubi to the BDS list,' referring to the Palestinian-led Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement that looks to boycott Israeli products and encourage investors to divest from companies implicated in Israeli policies. A group called Film Workers for Palestine later said it was 'horrified' by Mubi's decision. 'This is unacceptable, and we demand that Mubi return the investment,' it wrote in a well-circulated Instagram post. In a statement posted to its social media channels on Saturday, Mubi said the rationale to seek investment from Seqouia was to 'accelerate our mission of delivering bold and visionary films to global audiences,' adding that the venture firm had a '50-plus year history of partnering with founders to help turn their ideas into world-changing businesses.' 'Over the last several days, some members of our community have commented on the decision to work with Sequoia given their investment in Israeli companies and the personal opinions expressed by one of their partners,' it said. 'The beliefs of individual investors do not reflect the views of MUBI.' First founded 18 years ago by CEO Efe Carakal, Mubi has evolved from a niche streaming service to a full-fledged studio, cultivating a major following in the art-house crowd along the way. While it has largely remained politically muted, last year it cancelled an entire festival it had planned in Turkey after local authorities banned a screening of Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer' over what they described as 'provocative content.' As has been pointed out online, Mubi has numerous Palestinian films and features by Palestinian filmmakers about Gaza in its library. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Pride is a blessing': Plattsburgh fest focuses on acceptance, unity
PLATTSBURGH — The Strand Center front lawn echoed with applause and cheers during this year's Pride Fest flag raising that celebrated community, acceptance and identity. Friday's Pride event brought together attendees from all over, including families and local organizations that promoted healthy self-expression and LGBTQ+ acceptance in the North Country. Emily Arriaga, a Plattsburgh local attending her first Pride in the city, described the event as "really great," and expressed a deep appreciation for the chance to celebrate openly in her hometown. "Pride is being able to be who you are without any backlash," Arriaga said, a sentiment shared by many throughout the day. Christopher T. Hathaway, a parent, attended to support his child. "My daughter is gay and I am here to show my support for her and her girlfriend," he said. Hathaway emphasized the importance of treating one another with respect as a family. "We are all God's children and we should live like everyone is our brother and sister," he said. 'I am glad there aren't any anti-Pride people hanging out." Jennifer Titus-Malone, who moved to the North Country from South Georgia, described Plattsburgh's Pride as a welcoming and supportive space with "a real sense of community." "Pride means I am free to be myself in public," she said. Titus-Malone reflected Friday on the culture shock here compared to her experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the South. "Pride is an honor of everyone who has come before us," said Mario Chicas Chanduvi, who attended his first hometown Pride. He emphasized how meaningful it was to see what the event has grown into. "It is an honor to see," he said. "Growing up here, we didn't have these outlets. Pride is a blessing. Pride is an honor of everyone who has come before us. It means to be true to oneself, to be who you are without worrying." Andrew Vernon, attending his first Pride event, liked seeing the support of the community in full effect. "I have never been to a Pride event before, but I am really liking it so far," he said. "The vibes are great." Crystal Collette, CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Country NY, said downtown was "filled with excitement, raw energy, and positivity" during the celebration. Collette describes Pride as "a time to celebrate family, be yourself and come together," noting its importance during a time of national challenges for LGBTQ+ people. She also expressed disappointment and shame for the federal government, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and community. "Pride is especially important this year," Collette said. "Transgender people's entire existence is being invalidated by the actions of our federal government." Alyssa O'Brien, co-owner of Whistle Stop Fusion Barbecue & Craft Mocktails, praised the event's strong turnout. "This is our first Pride participating as a business," she said. To O'Brien, Pride is about being able to be yourself. 'It isn't rocket science," she said. "Some people just want to be themselves, and be free to express themselves with the support of a community behind them." She recalled attending her first Pride event in Plattsburgh more than 20 years ago, acknowledging that it can be intimidating at first, but encouraged anyone interested to just get out and be with people. 'Come out here, be around other people who think like you and act like you and look like you," O'Brien said. A running theme throughout the event was acceptance, community and the power of standing together to celebrate Pride and to honor the original Stonewall protest that started it all. Before raising the rainbow flag or Pride flag, which is a symbol of LGBTQ pride and LGBTQ social movements, on Friday, Collette introduced speakers Connie Mandeville, drag king of Haus of Starr, and Ali Webbinaro, North Country Regional Representative for Gov. Kathy Hochul. This year's Pride event was hosted by The Strand Center for the Arts, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood of the North Country NY, the city of Plattsburgh, the Plattsburgh Queer Collective, Haus of Starr and the Alliance for Positive Health.
