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150+ Entertainment Industry Leaders Call on Emmys to Rescind Nomination of Bisan Owda Amidst Ties to Terrorist Organization

By August 19, 2024August 29th, 2024Press Release

LOS ANGELES — More than 150 entertainment industry leaders signed an open letter released by the nonprofit organization, Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), urging the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) to rescind the Emmy nomination of Bisan Atef Owda for the 2024 News & Documentary category.

The letter, which comes in response to Owda’s nomination for the documentary “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive,” calls on NATAS to rescind the nominations due to Owda’s documented ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a United States-designated terrorist organization.

The letter expresses deep concern that honoring an individual who has actively participated in PFLP rallies and disseminated antisemitic content legitimizes a terrorist organization and undermines the integrity of the Emmys.

Co-founder and Chairman of CCFP, David Renzer, said, “NATAS must decide – they can either condone the murder of innocent civilians or they can listen to the entertainment community, and stand in  opposition to hatred and violence.”

CCFP Executive Director, Ari Ingel said, “The Emmys decision to honor someone with clear ties to a U.S.-designated terrorist group is inexcusable and should have never happened. It would be legitimizing a terrorist organization.”

“If the Emmys don’t change course and rescind this nomination, they will be glorifying someone who is a member of an organization that has carried our numerous aircraft hijackings, participated in the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, carried out waves of bombings on markets and restaurants and murdered innocent women and children. The Emmys cannot allow their prestigious award show to be hijacked by terrorists, and instead should continue to promote peace and tolerance through the arts,” adds Ingel.

The letter states that the nomination is in direct violation of the NATAS code of ethical conduct, which explicitly states a “zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, illegal, dishonest, unethical, or otherwise harmful conduct.”

The 150+ Signatories Include: Haim Saban (Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital Group); David Draiman (Frontman, Disturbed); Debra Messing (Actress); Rebecca De Mornay (Actress);  Sherry Lansing (Former CEO of Paramount Pictures); Rick Rosen (Co-Founder, Endeavor); Ben Silverman (Chairman & Co-CEO, Propagate Content); Modi Wiczyk (Co-Founder and Co-CEO, MRC); Fernando Szew (President, Fox Entertainment); Michael Rotenberg (Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment); Emmanuelle Chriqui (Actress);  Fred Tozcek (Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan LLP), amongst others.

For more information on Bisan Owda’s terrorist ties, click here: [Link]

If you are part of the entertainment community and want to add your name, please sign here.

FULL OPEN LETTER

Dear Members of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS),

We, the undersigned members of the entertainment industry, are writing to express our strong opposition to the Emmy nomination of Bisan Atef Owda for the 2024 News & Documentary category.

The Emmy nomination for “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive” is deeply troubling, given the creator’s history of promoting dangerous falsehoods, spreading antisemitism, and condoning violence. Bisan Owda’s affiliation with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a United States designated terrorist organization, raises serious ethical concerns that cannot and should not be ignored.

Honoring someone linked to an organization that has caused so much pain and suffering is not just irresponsible; it is a direct affront to the values we hold dear in the entertainment industry.

Owda has repeatedly participated in PFLP rallies and routinely disseminates antisemitism across her social media platforms. PFLP is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, aircraft hijackings, suicide bombings, and the murders of civilians, including women and children.

The Emmys are a prestigious entertainment institution, known for recognizing excellence in entertainment, often highlighting the unifying power of the arts. Choosing to elevate someone with clear ties to the PFLP not only legitimizes a terrorist organization, it undermines the integrity of the awards.

We urge NATAS to rescind Owda’s nomination to prevent glorifying a figure associated with terrorism and ensure the Emmys remain a symbol of peace and artistic collaboration.

Only in rescinding this nomination, will NATAS uphold its code of ethical conduct, which explicitly states a “zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, illegal, dishonest, unethical, or otherwise harmful conduct.”

Ari Ingel, Executive Director, Creative Community for Peace

David Renzer, Former Chairman/CEO Universal Music Publishing Group, CCFP Chairman & Co-Founder

Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts, CCFP Co-Founder

Rakefet Abergel, Actor/Director, Cyclamen Films

Orly Adelson, Former President of ITV Studios, America

Marty Adelstein, CEO, Tomorrow Studios

Anne-Marie Asner, Co-Founder, Animation Israel

Jeff Astrof, TV Producer/Showrunner, Other Shoe Productions

Michael Auerbach, Partner, Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein

Dean Bahat, Attorney, Ziffren Brittenham

Andrea Ballas, VP Comms, CBS

Jackie Barrie, A&R Manager

Richard Baskind, Partner & Head of Music, Simons Muirhead & Burton

Aton Ben-Horin, Executive VP of Global A&R, Atlantic Records Group

Steven Bensusan, President, Blue Note Entertainment Group

Adam Berkowitz, Founder and President, Lenore Entertainment Group

Sharon Bialy, Casting Director, Bialy/Thomas & Associates

Josh Binder, Co-Founder and Partner, Rothenberg Mohr & Binder, LLP

Neil Blair, Founding Partner, The Blair Partnership

Selma Blair, Actress, Author, Advocate, Sainted Productions

Rebecca Blumberg, SVP Ad Sales, Paramount

Evan Bogart, Songwriter & CEO, Seeker Music

Benjamin Budde, CEO, Budde Group GmbH

Bruce Burger, Producer, RebbeSoul

David Byrnes, Attorney, Ziffren Brittenham

Civia Caroline, Social Impact Consultant, CLiC Impact

Pamela Charbit, Director of A&R, Warner Music Group

Emmanuelle Chriqui, Actor, Yellow Ray Entertainment

Leanne Coronel, Talent Manager, The Coronel Group

Raye Cosbert, Managing Director, Metropolis Music

Paul Craig, Ceo, Nostromo Management

Doug Davis, NATAS Member, 2x Emmy winner, The Davis Firm

Rebecca De Mornay, Actor

Jamie Denbo, Co-Executive Producer, Grey’s Anatomy, ABC/Disney

Josh Deutsch, Chairman/CEO, Premier Music Group

Avi Diamond, Director, Film/TV Sync, Warner Music Canada

Craig Dorfman, President and Owner, Frontline MGMT

Rachel Douglas, Manager, Range Media Partners

David Draiman, Frontman, Disturbed

Jeremy Drysdale, Screenwriter, bigbamboo

Craig Emanuel, Ryan Murphy Productions

Hannah Epstein, Agent, CAA

Rami “Kosha dillz” Even-Esh, Rapper/Comic/Actor

Lindsay Fabes, Actor

Ron Fair, Record Producer & CEO, Faircraft Inc.

Sharon Farber, Composer, Score by Score Music

Danny Federman, Owner, Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club

Eric Feig, Attorney and TV Academy Member, Feig/Finkel

Patti Felker, Attorney, Felker Toczek Suddleson McGinnis Ryan LLP

Ken Fermaglich, Partner, United Talent Agency

Ross “Remedy” Filler, Artist

Shalom Fisch, President, MediaKidz Research & Consulting

David Fishof, CEO, RRFC Films, LLC

Siri Garber, Publicist, Platform

David Gardner, President, Artists First

Barbara Garshman, CEO, Garshman Productions LLC

Gary Gersh

Gary Ginsberg, Senior VP, SoftBank Group Corp.

David Glick, Founder & CEO, Edge Group

Zusha Goldin, Celebrity Photographer, Zusha Goldin

Michael Goldwasser, President, Easy Star Records

Andrew Gould, President, Music Publishing

Scott Greenberg, Partner, LBI

Steven Greenberg, Founder and President, S-Curve Records

Daniel Grindlinger, Writer

Ronnie Harris, Partner, Harris & Trotter

Michael Hirschhorn, Manager, Streaming and Sales, Atlantic Records

Linda Edell Howard, Attorney, Novick Law

Rich Ingram, Artist/Creator

Neil Jacobson, Former President, Geffen Records, Founder & CEO of Hallwood Media

Michael Kaplan, Writer/Producer

Sam Katz, Music Manager, Homebase MGMT, LLC

Zach Katz, CEO & Co-Founder, Fixated

Ketura Kestin, Film Producer, Serendipity Productions

Amanda Kogan, Manager, Aaron Kogan Management

Keetgi Kogan Steinberg, Writer/Producer/Showrunner

Jason Kozel, Creative Executive, Range Media Partners

Rick Krim, CEO, Krim Music + Media

Evan Lamberg, President, North America, Universal Music Publishing Group

Sherry Lansing, Former CEO, Paramount Pictures

Colin Lester OBE, Founder/Chairman, JEM Music Group

Sean Liebowitz, Agent

Koura Linda, Founder & CEO, Space Dream Productions

Marci Liroff, Intimacy Coordinator/Casting Director

Cory Litwin, Managing Partner, Range Media Partners

David Lonner, CEO, The David Lonner Company

Ben Maddahi, President, Unrestricted Publishing & Mgmt

Gabriel Mann, Composer

Deborah Marcus, Executive, CAA Foundation

Susan Markheim, Full Stop Mgt., The Azoff Company

Amanda Markowitz, Actor/Producer, SAG/AFTRA & PGA

Orly Marley, President, Tuff Gong Worldwide

Devra Maza, Screenwriter

Debra Messing, Actor/Producer

Hilary Michael, Agent and Partner, WME

Beth Milstein, Writer

Jennifer Morrow, Actor, CAA

Patrick Moss, Writer, Moroccan Boychik

Robert Munic, Writer/Showrunner, Pull The Pin Productions, Inc.

Lisa Nupoff, Manager, iminmusic management

Scott Packman, Founder and Managing Member, SSP Partners LLC

Mark Pinkus, President, Rhino Records

Jonah Platt, Actor/Producer

Wendy Plaut, SVP Music & Celebrity Talent, Paramount Global

Jessica Poter, Writer, Gustavo Anibal Productions

Brian Ralston, Composer/Producer, Studio 74 Music, LLC

Golan Ramraz, Writer/Producer, EGX Film Factory

Bruce Resnikoff

Frederic Richter, Producer, Writer & Researcher

Wendy Robbins, Executive Producer, Creators Inc

Dan Rosen, President, Warner Music Australasia

Rick Rosen, Co-Founder, Endeavor, WME

Aaron Rosenberg, Partner, Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light

Gregg Rossen, Screenwriter

Michael Rotenberg, CEO, 3 Arts Entertainment

Joshua Rothstein, CEO/Founder, Ice Cream For Dinner

Haim Saban, Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital Group

Glenn Sanders, Writer/Director/Creative Director, Masonry Creative

Ayelet Schiffman, SVP Head of Promotions, Island Records

Paul Schindler, Senior Partner, Greenberg Traurig LLC

Jordan Schur, CEO and Chairman, Mimran Schur Pictures and Suretone Entertainment

Adam Schwartz, Writer

Sam Schwartz, Partner, Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency

Jay Schweid, Founder/CEO, ephelants/Village

Adam Segal, President, The 2050 Group

Ben Silverman, Chairman and Co-CEO, Propagate Content

Ralph Simon, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Mobilium Global Limited

Tamar Simon, Owner/CEO, Mean Streets Management

Martin Singer, Attorney, Lavely and Singer

Halle Stanford, President of Television, The Jim Henson Company

Mimi Steinberg, Writer/Producer

Jonathan Steinsapir, Partner, Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir

Gary Stiffelman, Founder, GSS Law

Traci Symanski, CEO, Co-Star Entertainment

Aaron Symonds, Film Composer

Fernando Szew, President, Fox Entertainment

Tal Tavin, Actor

Adam Taylor, President, APM Music

Michael Testa, Casting Director, Michael Testa Casting

Fred Toczek, Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan LLP

Eric Tuchman, Writer/Producer, MGM-TV

Noa Vinshtok, Streaming, Range Media Partners

Joshua Washington, International Recording Artist, JoDavi Music LLC

Avi Weider, Filmmaker, Loop Filmworks

Jon Weinbach, President, Skydance Sports

Nola Weinstein, Tech Executive

Ilana Wernick, Writer/Producer, Fox

Modi Wiczyk, Co-Founder, MRC

Evan Winiker, Managing Partner, Range Music

Seth Yanklewitz, Casting Director, Yanklewitz Pollack Casting

Sharon Tal Yguado, Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment

Ky Zaretsky, Manager, Range Media Partners

David Zedeck, Global Co-Head of Music

Additional Signers Include:

Doug Ellin, Director

Danielle Solzman, Film Critic, Solzy at the Movies

Michael Perlmutter, Music Supervisor, Instinct Ent.

Ross Buckley, Sr. Business Development Manager, Prime Video

Sammy Scher, Film & TV Producer

Dana Landman, Manager

Bradley Fischer, Film Producer

David Kohan, Television Writer/Producer, KoMut Entertainment

Amanda Markowitz, Producer/Actor, PGA/SAG-AFTRA

Jordan Glickson, VP, Music & Talent, Vevo

Brandon Farbstein, Creator & Host, Ten Feet Tall LLC

Hannah Epstein, Agent, CAA

Chiara Simmons, Writer, Script Supervisor, Fremantle

Ronli Tzour, VP, Marketing, FAE grprr

Samantha Fetner, Publicist

Katie Walder, Actress

Leslie Schapira, Writer/Producer, CBS

Melissa Zukerman, Managing Partner, PCG

Avram Kaplan, Producer, Mase Kaplan Produtions, Inc.

Daniel Alcheh, Composer, KeyChain Music

A.M. Driver, SAG/AFTRA Actress, VO Artist, Producer

Cara Wodnicki, Founder, CSW Publicity

Jay Schweid, Founder / CEO, ephelants/Village

Sammy Horowitz, Film/TV Writer

Kate Cohen, Producer, Straight Up Films

Jeff Rabhan, Founder, CEO, Bored of Ed

David Wachtenheim, Director

Steven Gordon, Episode Director, Wild Canary

Michael Kaufman, Producer/Manager, 5X Media

James Burrows, Director

Richard Trank, Writer/Director, Moriah Media

Brendan Bragg, Producer/Manager, Haven

Elle Alexander, Stuntwoman

** Note – The signers of this statement do so as individuals on their own behalf and not on behalf of their companies or organizations. All organizations and companies listed are for affiliation purposes only.

Cover Photo Description: Stock Photo ID: 144522374  // BEVERLY HILLS – JUN 16: Emmy Statues at the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 16, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California

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