Latest news with #Shylock
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Fringe 2025 – Sam Blythe reboots Orwell's Animal Farm
Revolution is back on the menu. George Orwell's Animal Farm, the blistering barnyard parable of power, politics and betrayal, returns to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 – with a brand new performer breathing new life into a modern theatrical classic. Fringe legend Guy Masterson's iconic one-man adaptation, which has toured the globe continuously for three decades, is reborn this summer at Assembly George Square. The masterstroke? Acclaimed physical actor Sam Blythe steps into the stable – and into the roles of every beast, bird, and bamboozler on Orwell's corrupt farm. Directed by multi award-winner Masterson himself – whose name is synonymous with powerhouse solo performances like Under Milk Wood, Shylock, and A Christmas Carol – this 30th anniversary revival is more than a tribute. It's a torch passed and ignited anew. Blythe, best known for his electrifying solo Hamlet (Method in My Madness) and immersive performances in Peaky Blinders: The Rise and Doctor Who: Time Fracture, delivers a shape-shifting tour de force. From the noble Boxer to the conniving Squealer, each animal springs vividly to life in a performance that is physical, poetic and politically charged. 'This is no museum piece,' says Masterson. 'Orwell's warning feels more urgent than ever. And Sam brings a blistering clarity and intensity that makes the story hit home afresh.' Audiences should prepare for fur, feathers and fire. As the pigs rewrite the rules and the sheep bleat their blind approval, it's hard not to feel the chill of Orwell's prophecy. 'I mean, it could never happen to us, could it?' This year, Fringe-goers can double up on Blythe brilliance. Animal Farm runs daily at 1pm, while his solo Hamlet (Method in My Madness) returns at 10:40am – a compelling companion piece directed by comic provocateur Elf Lyons. Thirty years on, Orwell's hoof-stomping fable still bites hard. With Masterson's blessing and Blythe's ferocity, Animal Farm is set to stampede once more into the hearts – and consciences – of Fringe audiences. Like this: Like Related
Canada News.Net
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Trump faces backlash for antisemitic term ‘Shylock' in speech
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware that the term "shylock" is regarded as antisemitic when he used it in a speech to characterize unscrupulous moneylenders. Speaking to reporters on June 4 after returning from an event in Iowa, Trump stated he had "never heard it that way" and was oblivious to the term being deemed an offensive stereotype about Jews. The term "Shylock" originates from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," where it describes a villainous Jewish moneylender who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor. The Anti-Defamation League, which fights against antisemitism, condemned Trump's usage of the term, saying it "evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous." They labeled the president's choice of words as very troubling and irresponsible. In contrast, Joe Biden, while serving as vice president, acknowledged in 2014 that his use of the term during remarks to a legal aid group was a "poor choice" of words. Although Trump's administration has made addressing antisemitism a priority—implementing measures to screen for antisemitic activity when granting immigration benefits and engaging in legal battles with Harvard University over allegations of tolerating antisemitism—the president has a history of perpetuating stereotypes about Jewish individuals. Notably, in 2015, he remarked to the Republican Jewish Coalition that "you want to control your politicians," insinuating that the audience wielded influence through financial means. Before launching his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump faced significant backlash for dining with a Holocaust-denying white nationalist at his Florida club. Last year, he made controversial comments accusing Jewish Americans who identify as Democrats of disloyalty due to the criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Democratic leaders. Critics argued that this perpetuated antisemitic narratives about divided loyalties among Jews. In his speech in Iowa on July 3, Trump used the term while referencing his signature legislation that Congress had just passed. He remarked, "No death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing some from, in some cases, a fine banker and in some cases shylocks and bad people." When questioned later about the term's antisemitic connotations and his intentions, Trump replied, "No, I've never heard it that way. To me, a shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. I've never heard it that way. You view it differently from me. I've never heard that." The Anti-Defamation League emphasized that Trump's use of the term highlights the persistent lies and conspiracies regarding Jews in the country, stating, "Words from our leaders matter, and we expect more from the President of the United States."
Arab News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Trump says he didn't know an offensive term he used in a speech is considered antisemitic
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump says he didn't know the term 'shylock' is considered antisemitic when he used it in a speech to describe unscrupulous moneylenders. Trump told reporters early Friday after returning from an event in Iowa that he had 'never heard it that way' and 'never heard that' the term was considered an offensive stereotype about Jews. Shylock refers to the villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor. The Anti-Defamation League, which works to combat antisemitism, said in a statement that the term 'evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous. President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible.' Democrat Joe Biden, while vice president, said in 2014 that he had made a 'poor choice' of words a day after he used the term in remarks to a legal aid group. Trump's administration has made cracking down on antisemitism a priority. His administration said it is screening for antisemitic activity when granting immigration benefits and its fight with Harvard University has centered on allegations from the White House that the school has tolerated antisemitism. But the Republican president has also had a history of playing on stereotypes about Jewish people. He told the Republican Jewish Coalition in 2015 that 'you want to control your politicians' and suggested the audience used money to exert control. Before he kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump drew widespread criticism for dining at his Florida club with a Holocaust-denying white nationalist. Last year, Trump made repeated comments accusing Jewish Americans who identify as Democrats of disloyalty because of the Democratic leaders' criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Critics said it perpetuated an antisemitic trope about Jews having divided loyalties and there being only one right way to be Jewish. On Thursday night in his speech in Iowa, Trump used the term while talking about his signature legislation that was passed by Congress earlier in the day. 'No death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing some from, in some cases, a fine banker and in some cases shylocks and bad people,' he said. When a reporter later asked about the word's antisemitic association and his intent, Trump said; 'No, I've never heard it that way. To me, a shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. I've never heard it that way. You view it differently than me. I've never heard that.' The Anti-Defamation League said Trump's use of the word 'underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Defamation League decries Trump's use of ‘centuries-old antisemitic trope' at rally
The Anti-Defamation League on Friday condemned President Donald Trump's use of the term 'Shylock' at a Thursday night rally, saying the president was invoking a 'centuries-old antisemitic trope.' During a campaign-style rally speech in Iowa on Thursday — in which the president basked in his megabill success — Trump touted what he and Republicans have promoted as benefits of the sweeping legislation. 'No death tax. No estate tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker — and in some cases, shylocks and bad people,' Trump said. The use of the word 'Shylock,' which is viewed as an antisemitic term, prompted immediate outcry from prominent Jewish organizations, including the ADL, which decried Trump's use of the term in a statement posted to X Friday morning. 'The term 'Shylock' evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous. President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible,' the statement read. 'Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States.' The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a progressive organization, also condemned Trump's comments on Friday, saying in a statement that the president's use of the word 'is not an accident.' 'Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes. This is not an accident. It follows years in which President Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories — and it's deeply dangerous,' the council's statement read. But Trump has claimed that he did not know the weight the term carried. "I've never heard it that way,' the president told reporters aboard Air Force One early Friday morning. 'To me, Shylock is somebody that's a moneylender at high rates. I've never heard it that way. You view it differently than me.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on ADL's statement. The term 'Shylock' originated in the Shakespearean play 'The Merchant of Venice,' in which Shylock is a Jewish character representing stereotypes of greed wielded against Jewish people. In the play, Shylock is an unscrupulous moneylender who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor, painting the Jewish character as villainous and money-hungry. Thursday night's comments aren't the first time Trump has been criticized for playing into antisemitic tropes. Trump ruffled feathers at an event with Jewish donors in 2015 where he appeared to suggest that the group wanted to pay to prop up a puppet in the White House, telling the crowd, 'I don't want your money. You want to control your own politician." He has also derided Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats, suggesting at times it would be a 'great disloyalty' to vote for the other party. The president also came under fire after hosting known white nationalist and antisemitic Holocaust revisionist Nick Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022. Trump has been vocal about cracking down on what his administration describes as rampant antisemitism in higher education during his second term, making a point of targeting universities where students have held protests against Israel's war in Gaza.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Trump's 'Shylock' comment draws outcry from Jewish groups
US President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from Jewish groups after he used an antisemitic term at a described some bankers as "Shylocks" at the event in Iowa. He said afterwards he did not realise it was considered offensive. Shylock is a ruthless Jewish money lender in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish anti-discrimination monitor, said the president's use of the slur was "very troubling".Former US President Joe Biden used the word Shylock while he was vice-president, later acknowledging it was inappropriate. At Thursday's rally in Des Moines, Trump was celebrating the passage of his budget bill through Congress this week."Think of that: No death tax," he said. "No estate tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker - and in some cases, Shylocks and bad people."As the Republican president returned on Air Force One to Washington DC after the rally, he was asked by reporters about his use of the term. He said he was not aware it was seen as antisemitic."No, I've never heard it that way," the president said. "To me, Shylock is somebody that, say, a money lender at high rates."I've never heard it that way. You view it differently than me. I've never heard that."Congressman Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat, called Trump's remarks "blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he's doing".The ADL said in a post on X: "The term 'Shylock' evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous."President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible." Amy Spitalnick, head of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said on X the remark was "deeply dangerous"."Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes," she said. "This is not an accident."It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories."Trump's allies have previously brushed off any suggestion that he is antisemitic, pointing out his staunch support for Israel and that close advisers of his, including Stephen Miller and Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are president's administration has launched a campaign to weed out antisemitism on college campuses, withholding federal funding from some institutions, such as Harvard, and taking steps to deport pro-Palestinian activists who are in the US on student Biden, a Democrat, used the term Shylock in 2014 when addressing a legal group."People would come up to him and talk about what was happening to them at home in terms of foreclosures," he said, referring to his son's experiences serving in Iraq, "in terms of bad loans that were being - I mean, these Shylocks who took advantage of these women and men while overseas."Following uproar, Biden said "it was a poor choice of words".
