Mila Kunis, Debra Messing, Mayim Bialik, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Sherry Lansing, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Haim Saban among 200+ celebrities and entertainment executives sign open letter calling for the removal of the antisemitic documentary and book recently promoted by Kyrie Irving
LOS ANGELES (November 10 2022) — More than 200 leaders from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peace calling on Jeff Bezos, James Daunt, and other leaders at Amazon and Barnes & Noble to remove the antisemitic documentary and book, “Hebrews to N**roes” from their respective platforms. Since Kyrie Irving posted a Tweet with a link to the documentary and book, it has become a bestseller. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have refused to remove the title and continue to profit from its bigotry.
Mila Kunis (Actress), Debra Messing (Actress), Mayim Bialik (Actress), Sherry Lansing (Former CEO of Paramount Pictures), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Actress), Emmanuelle Chriqui (Actress), Haim Saban (Chairman & CEO, Saban Capital Group), Orly Marley (President, Tuff Gong Worldwide), Rick Rosen (Co-Founder, Endeavor), David Draiman (Frontman, Disturbed), Nina Tassler (Producer and Partner/Co-Founder, PatMa Productions); Diane Warren (Songwriter, Producer), Iliza Shlesinger (Comedian), and Ben Silverman (Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Propagate Content) are among 200+ signers of the open letter, which was made public today.
Addressed to leaders at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, the letter reads, “After more than a week of private messages and public calls to take the fallacious book and movie “Hebrews to N**roes” from your sites, you have so far refused to act.”
The statement’s signers are among the first in the entertainment industry to publicly and collectively call for the removal of the film, hoping to eliminate future radicalization and indoctrination.
“At a time in America where there are more per capita hate crimes against Jews than any other minority, overwhelmingly more religious-based hate crimes against the Jewish people than any other religion, and more hate crimes against the Jewish people in New York than any other minority, where a majority of American Jews live, it is unacceptable to allow this type of hate to foment on your platforms,” the letter continues.
“Respected platforms and companies like Amazon and Barnes & Noble have a choice,” said Ari Ingel, Director of Creative Community for Peace. “They can either continue to profit off of hatred and antisemitism, while turning a blind eye to the fears of the Jewish community, or they can choose to be an ally, and stand on the right side of history. While free speech is vital, corporations don’t need to help facilitate the spread of dangerous conspiracy theories that threaten the Jewish community. We implore them to take the prudent, responsible steps needed to remove this content.”
If you would like to add your name to this letter please click here.
Creative Community for Peace aims to promote the arts as a means for peace while fighting antisemitism in the entertainment industry and on prominent media platforms. To learn more about their cause, visit www.creativecommunityforpeace.com.
OPEN LETTER
To Jeff Bezos, James Daunt, and the leaders at Amazon and Barnes & Noble:
After more than a week of private messages and public calls to take the fallacious book and movie “Hebrews to N**roes” from your sites, you have so far refused to act.
The book and movie, and its contents, have been shared by several high-profile individuals causing tremendous harm to the Jewish community while spreading dangerous misinformation to an impressionable public that may be susceptible to its propaganda.
These works promote numerous antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories that have no basis in fact, including manufactured Hitler quotes, false claims of Jewish power and control, that the Jewish people fabricated the Holocaust, and that the Jewish people are fake Jews.
The claims made in these works have led to the persecution and murder of millions of Jews throughout the centuries.
Over the past week, the book has become a bestseller on both sites. There has also undoubtedly been a spike in viewership of the movie on Amazon. Your companies are profiting from hate.
At a time in America where there are more per capita hate crimes against Jews than any other minority, overwhelmingly more religious-based hate crimes against the Jewish people than any other religion, and more hate crimes against the Jewish people in New York than any other minority, where a majority of American Jews live, it is unacceptable to allow this type of hate to foment on your platforms.
We, the undersigned, demand that you immediately remove these works from your sites.
SIGNATORIES
Jason Adelman: Vice President, Brand Innovators
Orly Adelson: President, Orly Adelson Productions
Marty Adelstein: CEO, Tomorrow Studios
Ben Adler: Musician
Michael Adler: Partner at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark
Michael Auerbach: Partner, Jackoway Austen
Nate Auerbach: Partner, Versus Creative
Jeremy Barber: Partner, United Talent Agency
Eve Barlow: Music Journalist
David Baron: Rabbi, Temple of the Arts
Richard Baskind: Partner & Head of Music, Simons Muirhead & Burton
Aaron Bay-Schuck: CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Records
Hannah Bay-Schuck: Music Publisher, Prescription Songs
Miles Beard: Executive VP of A&R, Republic Records
Aton Ben-Horin: Executive VP of Global A&R, Atlantic Records Group
Pablo Bendersky: Producer/Artist
Hilary Bendon: Peace Partner, HXB LLC
Sandra Bendon: Attorney
Steven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment Group
Adam Berkowitz: Founder and President, Lenore Entertainment Group
Luc Bernard: Director, Voices of the Forgotten
Mayim Bialik: Actress
Josh Binder: Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLP
Neil Blair: Partner, The Blair Partnership
Allison Bloom
Evan Bogart: Songwriter & CEO, Seeker Music
David Byrnes: Partner at Ziffren Brittenham, LLP
Markell Casey: Senior Director of A&R, Sony Music Australia
Brian Celler: Bravo Charlie Management
Pamela Charbit: A&R Manager, Atlantic Records
Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress
Adam Cooper: Partner, Jackoway Austen
Leanne Coronel: President, The Coronel Group
Andy Corren: Author
Raye Cosbert: Managing Director at Metropolis Music
Ben Cosgrove: CEO, Leviathan Productions
Paul Craig: Chair, Nostromo Management
Avi Dahan: Attorney, Boyarski Fritz LLP
Ian Daly: Head of Brand Strategy, Live Nation
Greg Daniels: Writer and Producer
Howard Davine: Head of Business & Operations, Wiip
Josh Deutsch: Chairman/CEO – Premier Music Group
Avi Diamond: Director, Film & TV Licensing, Warner Music Canada
Kosha Dillz: Artist
Craig Dorfman: President and Owner, Frontline MGMT
Helen Dosik: Professor of Sociology, California State University, Northridge
David Draiman: Frontman, Disturbed
Beth Elitzer: B. Elitzer Consulting
Talya Elitzer: Co-Founder & President, Godmode Music
Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC
Daniel Erlig: Partner, United Talent Agency
Ron Fair: Record Producer & CEO, Faircraft Inc.
Sharon Farber: Composer
Paul Farberman: President, Paul Faberman Entertainment
Daniel Federman: Owner, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Eric Feig: Founder, Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law, Inc.
Yossi Feinberg: Professor of Economics
Patti Felker: Partner, Felker, Toczek, Suddleson, & Abramson LLP
Jacob Fenton: Partner, United Talent Agency
Ken Fermaglich: Partner, United Talent Agency
David Fishof: Producer and Music Executive
Josh Fluxgold: President, Oneway MGMT
Erica Forster: Entertainment Attorney
Gary Foster: Principal in Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment
Jordan Frazes: Founder, Frazes Creative
Francine Freid
Adina Friedman: Friends at Work
Dara Frimmer: Rabbi, Temple Isaiah Los Angeles
Siri Garber: CEO & Founder, Platform Public Relations
David Gardner: President, Artists First
Nancy Gates: Partner, United Talent Agency
Andrew Genger: Manager, Red Light Management
Lorna Gerry
Gary Gersh: President, Global Touring, AEG
Gary Ginsberg: Senior VP, SoftBank Group Corp.
Karen Glauber: President, HITS Magazine
David Glick: Founder & CEO, Edge Group & Chairman, Tap Music
Elon Gold: Actor, Comedian
Nicole Goldman: EVP, Branding, The Jim Henson Company
Alex Goldstone: Partner, Anonymous Content
Michael Goldwasser: Record Producer & President/Co-Founder of Easy Star Records
Robert Golenberg: Partner at Silver Lining Entertainment Productions
Jonathan Golfman: Co-President, MRC Film
Michael Gordon: Partner, Creative Artists Agency
Andrew Gould: Music Executive
Cary Granat: Co-Founder & Partner, Destiny Media, EMH Media
Trudy Green: Trudy Green Management/HK
Scott Greenberg: Manager and Partner at LBI Entertainment
Steve Greenberg: Founder & President of S-Curve Records
Renee Haas
Ronnie Harris: Partner, Harris & Trotter LLP
Jo Hart: Founder, Hart Media
Avi Hirshbein: A&R, Electric Feel Entertainment and Ventures
Linda Edell Howard: Attorney, Novick Law
Ari Ingel: Director, Creative Community For Peace
Richard “BournRich” Ingram: Artist/Creative Director
Neil Jacobson: Founder & CEO of Hallwood Media
Jordana Jaffe: Writer & Producer
Brandt Joel: Agent, William Morris Endeavor
Zach Katz: President & COO, FaZe Clan
Jonathan Kellerman: Novelist
David Kendall
Ilan Kidron: Artist & Musician
Scott Kluge: President, Tremendous Entertainment
Amanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh Agency
Rick Krim: CEO, Krim Music & Media
Mila Kunis: Actress
Seth Kurland; Television Writer/Producer
Matt Labov: Manager/Publicist
Gabz Landman: VP A&R, Warner Chappell Music
Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures
Colin Lester OBE: Founder/Chairman JEM Music Group
Jonathan Levav: Marketing Professor, Stanford University
Stephen Levinson: Filmmaker/Producer
David Levy: Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia, Founder of Back Nine Ventures
David Levy: Partner, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
Cory Litwin: EVP, Hallwood Media
David Lonner: CEO, The David Lonner Co.
Ben Maddahi: SVP A&R, Columbia Records
Imran Majid: Co-CEO, Island Records
Gabriel Mann: Composer/Producer
Susan Markheim: Full Stop Management, The Azoff Company
Orly Marley: President, Tuff Gong Worldwide
John Mass: President at Content Partners, LLC
Nancy Matalon: VP of A&R, Spirit Music Group
Debra Messing: Actress
Art Mollen: Physician
Sadaf Muncy: SVP, Development & Production, HappyNest
Spencer Neumann: CFO at Netflix
Joel Nickerson: Rabbi, Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Julia Nickerson
Leetal Nissenbaum: SVP of Synchronization and Licensing, Giant Music & Iconic Artists Group
Lisa Nupoff: Manager at IMIN Music
Tracy-Ann Oberman: Actress
Scott Packman: Founder and Managing Member, SSP Partners LLC
Mandi Perkins: Artist, Composer, Author
Jonah Platt: Actor, Writer
Mike Praw: Music Executive
David Renzer: Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing
Sydnee Rimes: Vice President of Current Programming at ABC Studios
Hanna Rochelle: Founder, Purple Productions, LLC
Alex Rockwell: Writer/Producer
Zoe Rogovin: SVP, Non-Fiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.
Dan Rosen: President of Warner Music Australasia
Rick Rosen: Co-Founder, Endeavor
Erez Rosenberg: Attorney, Jackoway Austen
Shani Rosenzweig: Partner, United Talent Agency
Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment
Autumn Rowe: Songwriter, Artist
Piper Rutman
Haim Saban: Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital Group
Asif Satchu: Co-CEO, MRC and Producer
Jacqueline Saturn: President, Virgin Music
Ayalet Schiffman: SVP, Head of Promotions, Island Records
Paul Schindler: Senior Chair of the New York Entertainment and Media Practice, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Steve Schnur: Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts
Jordan Schur: CEO & Chariman, Mimran Schur Pictures and Suretone Entertainment
Sam Schwartz: Partner, Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
Michael Seitzman: Producer, Maniac Productions
Camila Seta: Executive, Brand Consulting
Stefi Shabashev: Songwriter
DJ White Shadow: Producer/Artist
Iliza Shlesinger: Comedian
Noah “Westside Gravy” Shufutinsky: Artist
Jeremy Silver
Ben Silverman: Chairman and Co-CEO, Propagate Content
Ralph Simon: Chairman & CEO, Mobilium Global Limited
Marty Singer: Attorney, Lavely and Singer
Danielle Solzman: Film Critic, Solzy at the Movies
Jeff Sosnow: EVP A&R, Warner and Reprise Records
Nancy Spielberg: President, Playmount Productions
Donna Spievak: VP of Strategic Marketing, Interscope Records
Halle Stanford: President of Television & Executive Producer, The Jim Henson Company
Nancy Steingard: Producer & Partner/Co-Founder, PatMa Productions
Jonathan Steinsapir: Partner, Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP
Justin Sternberg
Gary Stiffelman: Founder, GSS Law
Rachel Strassberger: Manager, Grassroots Music
Aaron Symonds: Film Composer
Traci Szymanski: President, Co-Star Entertainment
Nina Tassler: Producer & Partner/Co-Founder, Patma Productions
Adam Taylor: President, APM Music
Scott Tenley: Chief Business Officer, MRC
Geffen Sonnenfeld Toar
Niv Toar: Composer
Fred Toczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP
Eric Tuchman: Writer, Producer
Oded Turgeman: President, The Operating Room
Alex Voihanski: President, Paramount Business Group
Jeremy Vuernick: President of A&R, Capitol Music Group
Diane Warren: Songwriter, Producer
Joshua Washington: Artist/Producer
Jon Weinbach: President, Skydance Sports
Nola Weinstein: Global Head of Brand Experiences & Engagement, Twitter
Modi Wiczyk: Co-CEO, MRC & Producer
Evan Winiker: Managing Partner, Range Media
Jeffrey Winter: Executive Director, The Film Collaborative
Yale Wolman: Agent, CAA
Sharon Tal Yguado: Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment
David Zedeck: Global Head of Music, United Talent Agency
Bradley Zweig: Executive Producer/Writer
Additional Signatores:
Jamie Denbo: Co-Executive Producer, Grey’s Anatomy
Eric Kranzler: Founding Partner, Entertainment 360
Rosalie Swedlin: Partner/Managing Producer: Anonymous Content
Elizabeth Ziff: Singer/Guitarist, BETTY the band
Tiffany Shlain: Film Director, Author, Artist
Orlando Jones: Producer, Writer, Actor, Comedian
Tanya Lopez: EVP Scripted Content at Lifetime, A+E Networks
Mollie Fermaglich: Writer, WGA
Jill Zarin: Actor
John Andriani: Singer/Songwriter, The Dwellers
Tomer Capone: Actor
** 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.
Read the original article here.
By: Roy Trakin
Recent tirades by Kanye West, now known as Ye, were undoubtedly on the minds of many of the record-shattering 500 guests who gathered at the spacious Beverly Hills home of Columbia Records A&R executive Ben Maddahi’s parents to mark the tenth anniversary of the Creative Community for Peace. The organization, co-founded by Electronic Arts President of Music Steve Schnur and veteran publishing executive David Renzer, honored an eclectic group as Ambassadors of Peace for 2022: comic legend Eugene Levy, “Sex and the City” creator Darren Star, Grammy-winning performer/songwriter Autumn Rowe, Billie Eilish managers Brandon Goodman and Danny Rukasin of Best Friends Music and UTA global co-head of music David Zedeck.
The fourth live event organized by the nonprofit — meant to encourage artists to collaborate and bring their talents to Israel as well as combat antisemitism — brought out a who’s who of entertainment executives and creatives, including past honorees Diane Warren, Warner Records CEO/co-chairman Aaron Bay-Schuck, Virgin Music label and artist services president Jacqueline Saturn and Atlantic Records Group’s EVP of global A&R Aton Ben-Horin.
Warren, an outspoken supporter of Israel who was honored at last year’s ceremony, had some choice expletives to describe her reaction to West’s hateful words. “Antisemitism is always just below the surface and now it’s reared its ugly head again,” she said. “Nobody should have anything to do with him. It’s like someone said, he just remixed an old record that’s been around 3,000 years like it’s a new thought. The Holocaust started with words like that.”
Co-founder Schnur, who recently penned his own Variety editorial calling the entertainment industry to task for their initial silence on the Ye incident, evoked the Jewish Hanukkah warrior Judah Maccabee to express his continued outrage. “Enough with this rhetoric that spreads like wildfire,” said the veteran music executive. “He’s one of many continuing to spew using platforms. My response is, hell no. I don’t want to hear it anymore. We need to stand up for not just the Jewish community, but the Black community, Muslims, Asians and the LGBTQ as well. The idea is that art is something that can bring people together. The only thing a Palestinian and Israeli kid might have in common is Rihanna’s music.”
Added Renzer, who noted that the following day (October 27) would be the fourth anniversary of the 11 Jews murdered at the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh: “Our message is one of unity, co-existence, anti-hate. Maybe it took something as dramatic and unfortunate as [Ye’s remarks] for it to happen,” adding this was a “record-setting year for the organization in terms of attendance, sponsorship and donations.”
Comic legend Eugene Levy attributed his honor to the award-winning sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” which he co-created with son Dan as a way to present an ideal community “blind to religion, sex or nationality, a world without bigotry,” joking about the misspelling of his name (Eugege) on the video display in back of him. He then told of running for class president in his senior year of high school and having his Superman-inspired campaign posters (“It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s Levy’) defaced with “Jew,” and winning the election by refusing to back down, or remove the posters.
UTA’s Zedeck defended fellow talent agency CAA’s decision to drop Ye as a client. “We have to be responsible for whom we represent,” he said. “Freedom of speech may be a legal issue, but not being associated with Ye is a business decision. It’s important to keep music and art separate from politics. This organization has a larger role than just combatting the BDS movement (boycott, divestment sanctions against Israel).”
Interscope vice chairman Steve Berman introduced Best Friends Music’s Brandon Goodman and Danny Rukasin, serenading the latter with “Happy Birthday.” Speaking to Variety, Goodman said, “My belief is that art should unite, not divide. Our job is to let our artists speak for themselves through their own experiences.” Darren Star, called to the stage by “Uncoupled” star Joshua Platt, recalled teaching a film and TV writing class at the University of Tel Aviv, “where even the bouncers wish you a ‘Shabbat shalom.’”
“Only by understanding each other can we make the world a better place,” Star said on the red carpet before the presentation. “Storytelling can transcend politics, creating characters where you can understand their humanity is so important. Art can make all of us understand our common humanity better… It helps build bridges.”
Autumn Rowe, who earned a Grammy for co-writing four songs on Jon Batiste’s album of the year-winning “We Are” — including “Freedom,” which she later performed to wrap the evening — is perhaps the perfect representative for both the CCFP and its sister organization, the Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance. The South-Bronx born singer-songwriter is the daughter of a Black father and Jewish mother, and an activist who has been involved in anti-racism, women’s and creative rights organizations such as Grammys on the Hill, the Women’s March on DC and SONA (Songwriters of North America).
“There are a lot of similarities between Blacks and Jews,” she said, comparing slavery with the Holocaust. “We both have bonds of oppression.” Her involvement with the CCFP and the BJEA came about during a time of introspection while in COVID lockdown. “It was a big moment for me to pause and reflect on who I wanted to be,” she explained. “Which was someone who spoke up for people whose voices weren’t being heard. These organizations helped me do that.”
Asked about West’s comment, her response was swift: she removed all his music from her Serato DJ software. “I felt really hurt by those comments,” said Rowe. “He has inspired me as a producer, songwriter and artist. I’ve been a fan for a long time, but I don’t feel like playing music from someone who wants to go ‘def con 3’ on the Jews. I’m over him.”
CCFP Director Ari Ingel offered his own closing argument against the notion of an “irreconcilable” co-existence of Israel and Palestine which has been in place since the country’s very inception in 1948, suggesting a three-prong answer for those present: taking a trip to Israel, encouraging artists to perform there and supporting the organization in its future goals.
“The objective is peace,” added Schnur. “Not to divide.”
Read the original article here on Variety.com.
By Steve Schnur
On Saturday October 8, the artist Ye, formerly Kanye West, declared to his 18 million Instagram followers that he was “going death con 3 on Jewish people,” adding that Jews “have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
In the days that followed, I wrote a piece for the 10/14 edition of “The Jerusalem Post” expressing my own experiences with growing antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad. “This isn’t a matter of my Jewish faith,” I wrote. “It’s a fundamental breakdown of our shared humanity.” And though my statement was supported by many friends and colleagues throughout the industry, I also encountered several disconcerting instances of trepidation. The outright silence of others spoke volumes.
Ken Burns’ recent documentary “The U.S. and the Holocaust” bluntly illustrates how the U.S. was initially unwilling to intervene in the Holocaust, even as evidence of its horrors publicly unfolded. Most of all, it reminds us that complacency is akin to complicity.
We’re now seeing our nation get more virulent and divisive by the day. We hear hate speech shared by public figures on global platforms. History can — and often does — repeat. But next time, will we allow inaction to prevail? As a descendant of refugees, many of whom died in the Holocaust, I will not tolerate antisemitism, racism, ignorance or hate from individuals or institutions, celebrities or politicians, friends, colleagues, or strangers. Neither should you.
On Saturday October 15, Ye appeared on Revolt TV’s “Drink Champs” to defiantly double-down. Not only did he endorse falsehoods about Jewish control of the media, but he went on to dismiss the indisputable — and adjudicated — facts of George Floyd’s murder.
I don’t buy the argument that Ye’s mental illness allows for public displays of malignant stupidity, and I don’t believe the platforms he’s been given should be exempt from responsibility either. My anger has only intensified in the days since, as have my questions: why have Ye’s music business partners — record labels, publishers, touring agencies, merch companies, etc. — remained silent? Is his brand so valuable that it overshadows his messaging? Is his fame so important that it’s worth the eventual price we may all pay? I will not stay silent, allow Ye’s message to dissipate over time, or wait until he says something even more destructive in the future. Neither should you.
And yet the problem is not simply Ye. He may be the most current public figure spewing antisemitism and racism, but is certainly not alone; from Sunday morning preachers and white nationalists to college campuses, city councils, and even members of Congress, ignorance and hate are gaining traction daily. If recent statements by Tommy Tuberville, Nury Martinez or Donald Trump haven’t shocked you, then what will it take? If you’re not getting angry or frightened, you’re not paying attention.
The creative community has a greater responsibility than most. Our voice — particularly among young people — is pervasive. Our influence is global. Which is why our time to act is now. We must speak up, no matter what the cost. And we must encourage our friends, families, colleagues and leaders to do the same.
Let me be perfectly clear, this is not about ‘cancel culture,’ ‘wokeness’ or any other buzzword used to denigrate empathy and undermine compassion. This is about stopping racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia and antisemitism in its tracks before it repeats itself to a degree we pray it never reaches again. We cannot idly stand by in fear, silence, or indifference. We must not allow the horrors of the past to infect our future.
The choices we collectively make over the next few months will matter for years to come. Through it all, I will march with you; I will scream with you; I will stand with you. And for the sake of our industry, our integrity, and our very survival as intelligent and rational beings, I am humbly asking you to do the same.
Steve Schnur is Worldwide Executive/President of Music at Electronic Arts and co-founder of Creative Community for Peace and Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance.
Cover Photo: Kanye West attends the in-store signing of his new release ‘Graduation’ held at the Virgin Megastore Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, California, United States on September 13, 2007.
Mila Kunis, Neil Patrick Harris, Mayim Bialik, Billy Porter, Dame Helen Mirren, Debra Messing, Sia, Phil Rosenthal, Zachary Quinto, Sherry Lansing, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Dana Goldberg, Iliza Shlesinger, Gene Simmons, Greg Berlanti, Michael Ian Black, Tracy Ann Oberman, and Diane Warren among 300+ celebrities and entertainment industry professionals sign open letter against boycott of Israel’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival.
LOS ANGELES (Oct 19 2022) — More than 300 leaders from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peace in support of the Tel Aviv International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (TLVFest) and the participating filmmakers.
The entertainment leaders stand united in rejecting the cultural boycott of Israel as yet another roadblock to peace and its subversion of art for nefarious political purposes. As the LGBTQ+ Community around the world continues to face immense discrimination, it is particularly shameful to boycott an event that gives a voice to their stories and struggles.
The open letter comes in response to repeated attempts by anti-Israel activists to boycott a film festival that celebrates international voices from the LGBTQ+ community, including the Middle East. TLVFest represents the epitome of coexistence, and regularly features Palestinian films.
“In Israel, movies have the unique power to bring together Jews, Arabs, and people of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in collaboration under a shared love of the arts, working together towards the common goal of telling their stories, and building bridges of compassion and understanding,” the letter reads.
Signatories to the open letter include: Neil Patrick Harris (Actor); Dame Helen Mirren (Actress); Mila Kunis (Actress); Zach Quinto (Actor); Mayim Bialik (Actress); Sia (Artist and Songwriter); Debra Messing (Actress); Emmanuelle Chriqui (Actress); Aaron Bay-Schuck (CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Record); Jeremy Piven (Actor, Comedian); Marty Adelstein (CEO Tomorrow Studios); Jonathan Tucker (Actor); Billy Porter (Actor); Gene Simmons (Artist, KISS); Greg Berlanti (Producer, Director); Haim Saban (Chairman & CEO, Saban Capital Group); Iliza Shlesinger (Comedian); Robbie Rogers (Athlete); Dana Goldberg (Chief Creative Officer of Skydance); Simon Callow (Actor); Tracy Ann Oberman (Actress); Lance Bass (Artist); David Burtka (Actor); John Benjamin Hickey (Actor); Rick Rosen (Co-Founder of Endeavor); Ben Silverman (Chairman & Co-CEO, Propagate Content); Melissa Rivers (Actress, TV Host); Paul Feig (Actor/Director); Michael Rotenberg (Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment); Eric Balfour (Actor); Rachel Riley (TV Host); Richard Benjamin (Actor/Director); Diane Warren (Songwriter); and Sherry Lansing (Former CEO of Paramount Pictures) amongst many others.
See full list of signees below, and to add your name click here.
The letter’s signatories believe strongly in the power of film to bring people together, transcend boundaries, broaden awareness, and affect positive societal change. They also call on their friends and colleagues to join in expressing support for a successful TLVFest 2022.
“We stand united with all the participating filmmakers against the divisive rhetoric espoused by boycott activists who seek to misinform, bully and intimidate artists into removing their films from the festival or shame them for participating in the festival,” the letter continues.
“Anti-Israel boycott activists continually use incendiary language and misrepresent the facts to try and bully filmmakers into backing out. Their reckless use of misinformation only furthers hostility and decreases the chance for peace, which all of us so urgently desire,” stated Ari Ingel, Director of Creative Community for Peace.
Ingel added that “instead of amplifying the voices of coexistence and peace trying to effect real change on the ground, those who support the calls for a boycott are only creating more division and fear.”
Creative Community for Peace aims to promote the arts and culture as a means to peace and to counter and educate the entertainment industry about rising antisemitism. To learn more about their work, visit www.creativecommunityforpeace.com.
OPEN LETTER
We, the undersigned, believe that artistic freedom and creative expression are critical to a healthy, diverse, and inclusive society.
Films have the power to bring people together, transcend boundaries, broaden awareness, and affect positive societal change.
In Israel, movies have the unique power to bring together Jews, Arabs, and people of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in collaboration under a shared love of the arts, working together towards the common goal of telling their stories, and building bridges of compassion and understanding.
The annual Tel Aviv International LGBTQ Film Festival (TLVFest) embodies this spirit of unity and truth, featuring films from filmmakers of all backgrounds, including Palestinians.
For this reason, we reject any attempt to boycott TLVFest – Israel’s largest LGBTQ Film Festival — which works to showcase the stories of LGBTQ people globally and create a brighter future for LGBTQ people both inside Israel and around the world.
We stand united with all the participating filmmakers against the divisive rhetoric espoused by boycott activists who seek to misinform, bully and intimidate artists into removing their films from the festival or shame them for participating in the festival.
We believe that anyone who works to subvert TLVFest merely adds yet another roadblock to freedom, justice, equality, and peace that we all desperately desire, especially for the LGBTQ community that is persecuted throughout the Middle East and around the world.
Artists should never be silenced, and art should not be subverted for political goals.
We call on our friends and colleagues worldwide to join us in expressing their support for a successful and exciting TLVFest 2022.
SIGNATORIES
Aaron Bay-Schuck: CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Records
Jason Adelman: Vice President, Brand Innovators
Orly Adelson: Producer, Orly Adelson Productions
Marty Adelstein: CEO, Tomorrow Studios
Michael Adler: Partner of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark Inc.
Javier Adrados: Music Journalist
Dan Aloni: Partner, Motion Pictures, William Morris Endeavor
Buck Angel: Trans Activist and Filmmaker, Actor
Nate Auerbach: Partner, Versus Creative
Michael Auerbach: Partner at Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein
Eric Balfour: Actor
Craig Balsam: Co-Founder, Razor & Tie Entertainment
Eve Barlow: Music/Culture Journalist
Jonathan Baruch: Partner, Rain Management Group
Richard Baskind: Partner & Head of Music, Simons Muirhead & Burton
Lance Bass: Artist, Entrepreneur
Miles Beard: Executive VP of A&R, Republic Records
Jonathan Beckerman: Agent, United Talent Agency
Pablo Bendersky: Producer/Artist
Aton Ben-Horin: Executive VP of Global A&R, Atlantic Records Group
Richard Benjamin: Actor/Director
Steven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment Group
Shelly Berger: Music Manager
Adam Berkowitz: Founder and President, Lenore Entertainment Group
Greg Berlanti: Producer, Director
Sara Berman: Artist
Luc Bernard: Director, Voices of the Forgotten
Mayim Bialik: Actress
Sharon Bialy: Casting Director
Josh Binder: Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLP
Michael Ian Black: Actor
Neil Blair: Partner, The Blair Partnership
Evan Bogart: Songwriter & CEO, Seeker Music
Howard Bragman: Publicist
Josh Brill: Writer, Producer
Jurgen Bruning: Producer
A.J. Buckley: Actor
David Burtka: Actor/Chef
David Byrnes: Partner, Ziffren, Brittenham, LLP
Sir Colin Callender CBE: Producer and CEO, Playground Entertainment
Simon Callow: Actor, Director
Nick Carter: Artist
Markell Casey: Senior Director A&R, Sony Music Australia
Brian Celler: Bravo Charlie Management
Pamela Charbit: A&R Manager, Atlantic Records
Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress, Activist
Erran Baron Cohen: Composer
Paul Colichman: Chief Executive Officer at Here Media, Inc.
Victoria S. Cook: Partner, Frankfurt Kurmit Klein & Selz
Leanne Coronel: President, The Coronel Group
Raye Cosbert: Managing Director, Metropolis Music
Ben Cosgrove: CEO, Leviathan Productions
Ian Daly: Head of Brand Strategy, Live Nation
Greg Daniels: Writer and Producer
Yuval David: Actor, Host, Filmmaker, and Advocate
Josh Deutsch: Chairman/CEO, Premier Music Group
Jenna Dewan: Actress
Avi Diamond: Director, Film & Licensing Warner Chappell Music
Kosha Dillz: Artist
Craig Dorfman: President and Owner, Frontline MGMT
David Draiman: Artist, Frontman of Disturbed
Doug Ellin: Screenwriter, Director
Stephan Elliott: Director
Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC
Ron Fair: Record Producer & CEO, Faircraft Inc.
Sharon Farber: Composer
Daniel Federman: Owner, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Eric Feig: Founder, Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law Inc.
Paul Feig: Actor, Director, Producer
Ryan Feldman: Agent, William Morris Endeavor
Patti Felker: Partner, Felker Toczek Gelman Suddleson
Jacob Fenton: Partner, United Talent Agency
Ken Fermaglich: Partner, United Talent Agency
Rodney Ferrell: EVP, Head of Scripted, Propagate
Greg Fleishman: Co-Founder & CEO, Foodstirs
Josh Fluxgold: President, One Way MGMT
Erica Forster: VP of Music Partnerships, DanceOn
Gary Foster: Principal at Krasnoff Foster Productions
Eytan Fox: Director
Jordan Frazes: Founder, Frazes Creative
Ben Freeman: Educator and Writer
Sonia Friedman OBE: Theatre Producer
Stephen Fry: Actor
Siri Garber: President, Platform Public Relations
David Gardner: President, Artists First
Nancy Gates: Partner, United Talent Agency
Andrew Genger: Manager, Red Light Management
Gary Gersh: President of Global Talent, AEG
Gary Ginsberg: Former Senior VP, SoftBank Group Corp.
Daniel Glass: President and Founder, Glassnote Records
Karen Glauber: President, HITS Magazine
David Glick: Founder & CEO, Edge Group
Elon Gold: Comedian
Dana Goldberg: Chief Creative Officer, Skydance
Iddo Goldberg: Actor
Michael Goldwasser: Producer & President/Co-Founder, Easy Star Records
Michael Gordon: Partner, CAA
Andrew Gould: EVP Music Publishing, Roc Nation
Trudy Green: Trudy Green Management/HK
Steve Greenberg: President, S-Curve Records
Scott Greenberg: Manager and Partner at LBI Entertainment
Joao Rui Guerra da Mata: Director, Production Designer
Paul Haas: Agent, Partner William Morris Endeavor
Sarah Halioua: Producer and Partner, Abracadabra Audiovisual
Neil Patrick Harris: Actor
Ronnie Harris: Partner, Harris & Trotter LLP
John Benjamin Hickey: Actor
Antony Hickling: Director
Tom Holland: Author/Historian
Erik Hyman: Partner, Paul Hastings
Richard “BournRich” Ingram: Artist, Creative Director
Neil Jacobson: Founder, Hallwood Media
Jonathan Jakubowicz: Writer and Director
Aharon Keshales: Filmmaker
Zach Katz: President and COO, FaZe Clan
Lee Kern: Screenwriter
Scott Kluge: President, Tremendous Entertainment
Amanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh Agency
Rick Krim: Co-Founder, Worldwired Music
Mila Kunis: Actress
Gabz Landman
Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures
Joanie Leeds: Singer/Songwriter
Sam Leifer: Writer/Director
Teddy Leifer: Producer
Martin Lesak: Partner, United Talent Agency
Colin Lester OBE: Founder/Chairman, JEM Music Group
David Levy: Partner, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
David Levy: Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia, Founder of Back Nine Ventures
Jonathan Lipnicki: Actor
David Lonner: CEO, The David Lonner Co.
Ben Maddahi: SVP A&R, Columbia Records
Imran Majid: Co-CEO, Island Records
Gabriel Mann: Composer/Producer
Susan Markheim: Manager, Full Stop Mgt., The Azoff Company
Orly Marley: President, Tuff Gong Worldwide
Rachel Mason: Director
Nancy Matalon: VP of A&R, Spirit Music Group
Biran Maya: Actor, Producer
David Mazouz: Actor
AJ McLean: Artist
Doron Medalie: Composer
Debra Messing: Actress
Helen Mirren DRE: Actress
Matthew Mishory: Actor
Max Mutchnick: Executive Producer
Guy Nattiv: Director
Leetal Nissenbaum: VP of Synchronization and Licensing, Ultra Records
Lisa Nupoff: Manager, IMINMUSIC Management
Tracy Ann Oberman: Actress
Sharon Osbourne: Television Personality, Manager
Navot Papushado: Director
Mandi Perkins: Artist, Songwriter
Trevor Phillips OBE: Journalist and Commentator
Henry Platt: Musician
Jonah Platt: Actor/Writer
Jeremy Piven: Actor, Comedian
Billy Porter: Actor
Mike Praw: Entertainment Industry Executive
Paula Prentiss: Actress
Zachary Quinto: Actor
Itay Reiss: Talent Manager
David Renzer: Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing
Zak Resnick: Actor
Rachel Riley: TV Host
Melissa Rivers: Actress, TV Host
Lindy Robbins: Artist
Jaimison M. Roberts: Attorney
Hanna Rochelle: Founder & President, Lyric Culture
Poao Pedro Rodrigues: Filmmaker
Robbie Rogers: Professional Soccer Player
Dan Rosen: President of Warner Music Australasia
Rick Rosen: Co-Founder, Endeavor
Howard Rosenman: Producer, Actor, Writer
Shep Rosenman: Partner, Katz Golden Roseman LLP
Phil Rosenthal: Writer, Producer
Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment
Autumn Rowe: Songwriter, Producer, DJ
David Russell: Manager, Crush Music
Haim Saban: Chairman & CEO, Saban Capital Group
Asif Satchu: Co-CEO, MRC and Producer
Jacqueline Saturn: President, Virgin Music
Danielle Savre: Actress
Ayelet Schiffman: SVP Head of Promotions, Island Records
Paul Schindler: Senior Chair of the New York Entertainment and Media Practice
Steve Schnur: President of Music, Electronic Arts
Jordan Schur: CEO & Chairman, Mimran Schur Pictures & Suretone Entertainment
Sam Schwartz: Partner, Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
Camila Seta: Marketing & Content Strategy, Rogers & Cowan
DJ White Shadow: Producer/Artist
Iliza Shlesinger: Comedian, Actress
Emile Sherman: Director, Producer
Noah “Westside Gravy” Shufutinsky: Artist
Sia: Artist and Songwriter
Ben Silverman: Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Propagate Content
Gene Simmons: Artist, KISS
Ralph Simon: Chairman & CEO, Mobilium Global Limited
Marty Singer: Attorney, Lavely and Singer
Robert Singer: President, Dec. 3rd Productions
Jeff Sosnow: EVP A&R, Warner Music
Nancy Spielberg: Filmmaker
Donna Spievak: Director of Strategic Marketing, Interscope Records
Justin Sternberg: Writer
Gary Stiffelman: Founder, GSS Law
Aaron Symonds: Composer
Traci Szymanski: President, Co-Star Entertainment
Alona Tal: Actress
Adam Taylor: President, APM Music
Fred Toczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Gelman Suddleson
Eric Tuchman: Writer, Producer
Jonathan Tucker: Actor
Ronli Tzour: VP Marketing & Manager, First Access Entertainment
Gal Uchovsky: Director
Ian Van der Putten: Cinemien
Tehran Von Ghasri: Entertainer
Ariel Vroman: Director
Jeremy Vuernick: Executive VP of A&R, Capitol Records
Diane Warren: Songwriter, Producer
Joshua Washington: Artist, Producer
Tom Watson: Former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture
Jon Weinbach: President, Skydance Sports
Nola Weinstein: Global Head of Culture & Experiential, Twitter
Ron West: Co-founder and Partner, Thruline Entertainment
Evan Winiker: Managing Partner, Range Media
Modi Wiczyk: Co-CEO, MRC and Producer
Jeffrey Winter: Executive Director, The Film Collaborative
Shirin Yadegar: Journalist
Sharon Tal Yguado: Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment
Sebastian Zar Esq.: Sedlmayr & Associates
David Zedeck: Global Head of Music, United Talent Agency
Additional Signers:
Phillip Guttmann: Writer, Producer
Orly Ravid: Founder & Co-Executive Director, The Film Collaborative
Amnon Lourie: Writer, Producer
Predrag Azdejkovix: Director, Merlinka Queer Film Festival – Belgrade
Nate Dushku: Director, Producer, Birder, Maplethorpe
Andrei Zinca: Director, Writer, Producer
Elana Podolskaya: Antipode Sales International LLC
Henrika Kull: Director
Thunska Pansittivorakul: Director, Sleep of Reasons Films
Marc Putman: CEO, PRIDEtv
Bjorn Koll: Salzgeber
Kai Tillman: Filmmaker
Jason Laurits: Filmmmaker
Adrian Hume Robinson: Actor, Filmmaker
Wiktor Morka: CEO, LGBT+ Film Festival Poland
Abe Gurko: Writer, Producer, Won’t Be Silent LLC
Stefan Manthey: Photographer
Kai Stanicke: Director
Laurent Burst: Photographer, Media Founder
Pauline Jabes: Filmmaker
Joshua Rosenzweig: Creative Executive
Andrea Krauss: Programming Director, Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
Andy Vallentine: Director
Bohdan Zhuk: Director SUNNY BUNNY LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Kyib
Allison Tate: Lead Producer, Big Boys Feature Film
Martin Rodriguez Redondo: Filmmaker
Olivier Ducastel: Director
Jacques Matineau: Director
Monika Treut: Hyena Films
Alante Kavaite: Film Director
Keith Levy: Sher Vine Inc.
Stefan Westerwelle: Director
Jakub Mroz: CEO, Tongariro Releasing
Romas Zabarauskas: Director
Michael Stock: Filmmaker
Marc Smolowitz: 13th Gen, Director, Producer, Executive Producer
Prederico Evaristo: Filmmaker, Brazil
Maria Katsikadakoy Cyber: Artist, Greece
Michelle Ehlen: Director, Producer
Rona Lee Shimon: Actor, Artist
Pepe Ruiloba: Film Critic, Festival Programmer
Amit Rahav: Actor
Ursula Raberger: Psychotherapist and Film Scientist
Jeffrey Schwarz: Documentary Filmmaker
Johanna Jackie Baier: Director
Malgorzata Kubiak: The Ego Trip Label
Ron Leshem: Writer, Producer
Moran Resenblatt: Actor
Eli Roth: Director
Kristina Maca: Director, Writer, Actor
Sonia Jean-Baptiste: Co-Founder & Head Programmer, Chelsea Film Festival NYC
Ingrid Jean-Baptiste: Founder & Artistic Director, Chelsea Film Festival NYC
Jen Cohn: Voiceover, On Camera, Gaming and Fashion
Wieland Speck: Filmmaker, ex Berlinale Panorama Director
FranckFiance-Madureira: President, Founder Queer Palm
Till Kleinert: Writer, Director
Stephane Riethauser: Director Lambda Prod
Fabian Stumm: Actor, Director
Rosa von Praunheim: Director
Daniela Aguinsky: Filmmaker, Artist Audiovisual
Julius Fedlmeier: Actor, Director
Clemens Schick: Actor
Elizabeth Ziff: Singer, Songwriter, Producer BETTY
Ofir Raul Grazier: Director
Matthew Nouriel: Director of Community Engagement, JIMENA
Tomer Heymman: Director
Yariv Mozer: Film Director
Dave Kim: Programmer, Seoul International PRIDE Film Festival
Shanni Suissa: CEO, Jews Talk Justice
Menina Putri Wismurti: Film Progammer
Dana Morag: Artistic Director, Tel Aviv Cinematheque
Michael Franco: Film Director
Eline Gehring: Director
Richard Resch: Singer
Mariana Cecilia Russo: Director, Producer, Sombracine SRL
Shawn Harris: Cultural Programs Specialist Tuscan Jewish Community Center
Amy Lord Posey: Eris Talent Agency Owner
Melissa Center: Actor, Filmmaker
Justin Arnold: Actor
Rachel Eddy: Actor, Writer
Paula Eiselt: Director and Producer
Rachel Turner Seed: Director
Jeremy Podgursky: Composer
Shara Ashley Zeiger: Actor, Filmmaker
Danny Manus: Script Consultant, Wrtier
Keetgi Kogan Steinberg: Writer, Producer, Screenwriter
Jamie Denbo: CO-EP, Grey’s Anatomy, Writer, Actor
Stephanie Liss: Founder, Artistic Director, The American Jewish Theatre
Wendy Engelberg: WGA East
Leslie Belzberg: Canucklehead Productions
Clifford Green: Screenwriter
Amy Engelberg: Writer
Patrick Moss: WGA Writer
Stafanie Leder: Writer, Producer, WGA
Alison Stover: Actor, Filmmmaker
Frederic Richter: Archival Producer & Researcher, Luminous Pictures
Avital Levy: Producer
Lisa Ullmann: Independent
Seth Nesenholtz: Screenwriter
** 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 Collage: Photo Credits: Bill Porter: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Billy Porter attends Variety’s 2022 Power Of Women: New York Event Presented By Lifetime at The Glasshouse on May 05, 2022 in New York City. // Debra Messing: LOS ANGELES – JUN 9: Debra Messing at the “Will & Grace” FYC Event at the Harmony Gold Theatre on June 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA // Sia: LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 8, 2013: Australian singer Sia Furler at the 15th Anniversary TrevorLIVE gala to benefit the Trevor Project at the Hollywood Palladium. // Mila Kunis: Mila Kunis at Part 2-American Woman Fashioning a National Identity Benefit Gala Co-Hosted by GAP for the Costume Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York May 3, 2010