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In Article

Creative Community for Peace Courts Biggest Crowd Yet at Annual ‘Ambassadors of Peace’ Gala

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By Sara Smola

Mayim Bialik, Ben Silverman, Elliot Grainge, Phylicia Fant, and Josh Binder Named 2024 Ambassadors of Peace

“I never in my life imagined that I would be in a position to fight for the right of Israel to exist,” said actress and author Mayim Bialik at Creative Community for Peace’s (CCFP) sixth annual “Ambassadors of Peace” gala held September 24.

“I never imagined I would need the kind of support that CCFP provides,” Bialik continued. “I’m very, very humbled to be recognized for my advocacy. I’m a liberal Zionist. I’m a lover of peace. I’m the child of Civil Rights activists. I want you to know how much your support of CCFP allows so many of us to stand up to hate and to discrimination and to intimidation.”

Bialik was one of five Hollywood luminaries honored by the non-profit organization, Creative Community For Peace for its sixth annual “Ambassadors of Peace” gala. Over 500 entertainment professionals gathered at a private home in Beverly Hills for the swanky soiree, honoring prominent figures in the biz who champion the power of the arts to foster unity and promote peace.

Aside from Bialik, other honorees included: Propagate Content Chairman and Co-CEO Ben Silverman; Atlantic Music Group CEO and 10K Projects Founder Elliot Grainge; Amazon Music’s Head of Music Industry & Culture Collaborations Phylicia Fant; and Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder LLP Founding Partner Josh Binder. All were recognized for their ability to effect positive change around the world.

David Renzer, chairman and co-founder of CCFP, and Ari Ingel, executive director of CCFP remarked, “Our honorees this year exemplify the core values of Creative Community for Peace. Their contributions to the entertainment industry promote understanding and peace. We are proud to recognize their efforts and celebrate their achievements.”

The evening served to counter antisemitism within the entertainment industry and to galvanize support against the cultural boycott of Israel by bringing people of all backgrounds together.

“We’re more polarized than ever and unfortunately, finding common ground and humanity is becoming harder to find,” shared Mayim Bialik. “I use my platform to tell my story to the public through humor and authenticity, hoping it bends our collective arc a little closer to justice. I’m deeply honored for CCFP’s recognition of my work. Their mission to pursue peace through connection, dialogue, and tolerance is imperative.”

CCFPeace
In Press Release

More Than 500 Artists and Entertainment Industry Leaders Gathered To Honor Mayim Bialik, Ben Silverman, Elliot Grainge, Phylicia Fant, and Josh Binder at Creative Community for Peace’s 6th Annual ‘Ambassadors of Peace’ Event

Multiple speakers highlighted the need for dialogue and education and the entertainment industry’s responsibility to use their platform to promote peace and understanding

LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday, September 24th, Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), an entertainment industry non-profit organization, hosted its sixth annual “Ambassadors of Peace” (AOP) event to honor prominent entertainment industry leaders for their contributions in using the arts to foster unity, promote peace, and bridge cultural divides.

This year’s honorees were Mayim Bialik, Actress, Author, and Television Host, Ben Silverman, Chairman and Co-CEO of Propagate Content; Elliot Grainge, CEO of Atlantic Music Group and Founder of 10K Projects, Phylicia Fant, Head of Music Industry & Culture Collaborations at Amazon Music and manger to artists such Andra Day and Anthony Hamilton, and Josh Binder, Founding Partner at Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder LLP whose clients include Top Dawg Entertainment, Marshmello, Gunna, and Lisa of Blackpink.

The event was held at the Beverly Hills private residence of Aton Ben-Horin, Executive VP A&R, Warner Music Group & CEO of Plush Management.

Artists and entertainment leaders from across the industry were in attendance such as Grammy Award Winning and 13x Oscar Nominated Songwriter Diane Warren, President of Virgin Music Jacqueline Saturn, President of Music Publishing at Roc Nation Andrew Gould,  television producer and talent manager Benny Medina, CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, Founder and Partner at 3 Arts Entertainment Michael Rotenberg, Co-Founder of Endeavor Rick Rosen; Artist Ava Max, artist and author Rachel Platten, actress and artist Andra Day, Co-President of Artists First Brian Dobbins, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden, Co-Founders of Best Friends Music Brandon Goodman & Danny Rukasin, CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group Jody Gerson, COO and Co-Chairman of Warner Records Tom Corson, and CEO and Co-Chairman of Warner Records Aaron Bay-Schuck amongst many others.

Previous Ambassador of Peace honorees include luminaries such as Actor Eugene Levy, Actor and Director Liev Schreiber, Showrunner Darren Star, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., Grammy Award winning and 14x Oscar nominated songwriter Diane Warren, reggae legend Ziggy Marley, music mogul Scooter Braun, Chairman & CEO of Sony Music Latin America Afo Verde, and CEO and Co-Chairman of Warner Records Aaron Bay-Schuck amongst others.

Paying tributes for this year’s honorees included media personality and film producer, Ryan Seacrest, rapper Flavor Flav, comedian and showrunner Larry Wilmore, model and media personality Sofia Richie Grainge, music producer and DJ Marshmello, writer and producer Jenji Kohan, artist and actress JoJo, comedian Modi Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Saban Capital Group Haim Saban, actor and artist Andra Day, songwriter and producer Salaam Remi, producer & founder of So So Def Recordings Jermain Dupri, actress Melissa Rauch, Senior Vice President at Prime Video & Amazon Studios Mike Hopkins, comedian Elon Gold, and actor Liev Schreiber.

The event also featured a soulful performance by Grammy Award-winning artist, Anthony Hamilton.

CCFP Chairman and Co-Founder, David Renzer, opened the evening stating, “We’re all here tonight as  part of one entertainment community, celebrating our biggest event ever with an amazing, deserving group of honorees who are leaders in our industry.  In this challenging time CCFP has expanded its mission to fight hate, galvanize the entertainment community to push back on antisemitism and support Israel.  We also believe in the power of the arts to help build bridges of peace and hope to return to focus on these initiatives after these difficult times of war.”

The evening featured heartfelt speeches from the honorees, each reflecting on their personal commitment to using their platforms to advance peace and unity:

Honoree Mayim Bialik said, “I never imagined I’d need the kind of support that CCFP has provided. I’m humbled to be recognized. As a scientist, a peace lover, and an activist, I’m just one person trying to figure out where we belong in this upside-down world. Thank you all for being here, and thank you for supporting CCFP, which allows so many of us to stand against discrimination and intimidation.”

Honoree Ben Silverman remarked, “The arts fuel my life, and television drives my ambitions. I believe that everyone should have the freedom to sing their song and speak their truth. The idea of banning people from expressing themselves is wrong. I’m so proud of the honorees here tonight. We all care about the freedom of our families. I encourage everyone to donate to this incredible organization. I also want to thank my colleagues; we’ve had countless conversations about Israel’s place in the world. I’m so glad we’re all here together. In these dark moments, there is only light.”

Honoree Elliot Grainge reflected, “Music has the power to bring us together, something we need now more than ever. That’s why CCFP is so important today. What we do as an industry and a culture has the power to unite us all. All of us have the ability to foster both physical and mental space for understanding. And that’s the true meaning behind unity.”

Honoree Phylicia Fant said, “While I’m thankful for every position I’ve ever held, my true role and purpose in these organizations extends far beyond what my title says; which is to demonstrate what is possible when you believe that anything is possible; to break ceilings and barriers; to make global impact; to uplift and mentor my team; to support my peers; to champion women. But don’t get me wrong, the work I was hired to do is definitely going to get done as well.”

Honoree Josh Binder shared, “We need more dialogue, more education, more tolerance, and less division and hate. Community doesn’t work if it only works for your community. It’s fake news that a Jew and a Muslim can’t accomplish great things together.”

The evening, while celebratory, also reflected on the ongoing challenges facing Jewish communities and the entertainment industry. Since the  October 7th attacks nearly a year ago, and amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, the Jewish community remains on edge. Speakers also acknowledged the continued importance of using their platforms to combat antisemitism and build tolerance.

Ari Ingel, CCFP Executive Director, closed the evening with a message to everyone in attendance, sharing, “These six honorees embody how we should live each day — with purpose and as agents of change. Everyone, all of you here, are change-agents, and have the ability to affect positive change in the world. To effect positive change for the Jewish people, and to effect positive change for the way Israel is seen around the world. And is it incumbent on all of us to do all we can,  to use our platforms to make sure that we continue to have a thriving Jewish community here in America and a thriving State of Israel.”

More information on Ambassadors of Peace can be found on the event’s website: https://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/gala/

CCFPeace
In Article

CCFP’s Ambassadors of Peace Gala To Honor Mayim Bialik, Music Industry Leaders

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CCFP is holding its sixth annual Ambassadors of Peace Gala (AOP), where they honor five individuals in entertainment for using their platform to bring people together, as well as effect positive change.

On Oct. 12, five days after the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Creative Community for Peace put out a letter in support for Israel. Signed by over 2,000+ people in entertainment including Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Helen Mirren and Debra Messing, the letter called for the release of the hostages and condemned Hamas.

Gadot said, “My heart is aching for the lives lost and families shattered. I’m praying for everyone who has been affected by Hamas’ terrorism and brutality. And I hope that the world remains steadfast in their support of the Israeli people.”

Since the letter was released, CCFP has urged celebrities – whether or not they are Jewish – to stand up for Israel and advocate for peace. On their Instagram account, they frequently release videos of entertainers voicing support for the Jewish state, as well as advocate for the hostages and share inspiring content, like Shaq wishing a “Shana Tova” to survivors of Oct. 7.

Now, CCFP is holding its sixth annual Ambassadors of Peace Gala (AOP), where they honor five individuals in entertainment for using their platform to bring people together, as well as effect positive change. The main honoree at this year’s event, which is taking place at a home in Beverly Hills, is Mayim Bialik of “The Big Bang Theory,” “Blossom” and “Beaches.”

“I am so grateful to all of the work that CCFP has done for the Jewish community and in particular, for those of us in Hollywood trying to make sense of a lot of uncertainty and fear post Oct. 7,” Bialik told The Journal. “My understanding of the news coming out of Israel and my place in the world as a proud liberal Zionist has been transformed by the work of CCFP and their tireless efforts to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism.”

I am so grateful to all of the work that CCFP has done for the Jewish community and in particular, for those of us in Hollywood trying to make sense of a lot of uncertainty and fear post Oct. 7.” – Mayim Bialik

The other gala honorees include Phylicia Fant, who is head of music industry and culture collaboration at Amazon Music; Josh Binder, a founding partner at Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder, LLP; Elliot Grange, CEO of Atlantic Music Group; and Ben Silverman, chairman and co-CEO of Propagate Content.

“All of the honorees are people we know that care about our mission and they understand the importance of our work and believe in it,” said former CEO/Chairman Universal Music Publishing and CCFP Chairman and Co-Founder David Renzer.

According to Renzer, this AOP is shaping up be the biggest event yet, with over 500 attendees, and a record amount of fundraising.

He was proud to see that, after Oct. 7, “there are many people in the Jewish community who have been activated. They say they were apathetic about their Judaism in the past, but the rise in antisemitism has really alarmed them. So many people are motivated to do something.”

At the same time, Renzer has seen people in the entertainment industry face backlash and attacks for being Jewish and/or pro-Israel.

“People have created online groups that call out Zionists in music and film and entertainment,” he said. “It’s their way of trying to intimidate the Jewish executives. But we will not be intimidated.”

Along with posting up videos and statements of celebrities coming out in support of the Jewish community and Israel, CCFP educates on antisemitism within the entertainment industry and builds bridges with other communities.

“We have a lot of members who aren’t Jewish who we honor,” Renzer said. “We try to have a diverse group of people who embody the spirit of CCFP.”

Unlike other galas, AOP, which honored actors Liev Schreiber in 2023 and Eugene Levy in 2022, is more of a casual party as opposed to a sit-down, formal banquet.

“It’s not your typical event,” Renzer said. “There will be music and performances, and it’s an incredible networking opportunity for people in entertainment. It’s in a beautiful home in Beverly Hills. It’s got a unique vibe, which is by design.”

Ari Ingel, executive director of CCFP, added, “People in the entertainment community are like the entire Jewish community right now — they feel the need to be with their peers and are looking for support and guidance on how we can tackle challenges together. That’s where CCFP has been doing an incredible job and service to the industry. That’s why this evening has taken on a new level of importance.”

By gathering together hundreds of leaders in entertainment, CCFP is fulfilling its mission: to push for peace and create positive change in the world. For

Ingel, this proves that “our communities are stronger when we stand together against all forms of hate.”

To purchase tickets (General admission, $360; sponsorships available), visithttps://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/gala/purchase.

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In Article

HEAVYWEIGHTS TO BE HONORED BY CCFP

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Atlantic Music Group CEO Elliot Grainge, Amazon Music Head of Music Industry & Culture Collaborations Phylicia Fant and Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder Founding Partner Josh Binder will be among the entertainment-business figures honored as “Ambassadors of Peace” by the Creative Community for Peace at a Beverly Hills gala on 9/24.

They’ll be feted alongside actress-author Mayim Bialik and Propagate Content Chairman/Co-CEO Ben Silverman.

Said Grainge, “In an era where division often makes headlines, the arts can offer a powerful counter-narrative of connection and joy. I’m thrilled to be acknowledged by CCFP, an organization that epitomizes the transformative impact of the arts. Together, we can continue to build bridges and promote a more harmonious world.”

“Music has always been a universal language that transcends boundaries,” Fant noted. “It’s a privilege to use my role to foster cultural collaborations that inspire and unite. I am deeply grateful to CCFP for this recognition and for their unwavering dedication to promoting peace through the arts.”

“Growing up, I witnessed the profound impact music had on my community, connecting people of different backgrounds and cultures,” Binder commented. “Now more than ever, in these divided times, it’s essential to use our platforms and the arts to bring people together, highlighting the most creative members of different communities and cultures so that people can connect and recognize their shared humanity. CCFP’s mission aligns with my core belief that music builds bridges, and we should do everything within our power to preserve and promote that goal.”

“Our honorees this year exemplify the core values of Creative Community for Peace,” reads the joint quote of David Renzer, CCFP’s chairman, and Ari Ingel, the nonprofit’s executive director. “Their contributions to the entertainment industry promote understanding and peace. We are proud to recognize their efforts and celebrate their achievements.”

For more info about the Ambassadors of Peace event and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/gala/

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In Article

Emmy-nominated Palestinian filmmaker’s ‘ties to terrorist group’ resurface as she’s pictured speaking at multiple rallies – but Academy refuses to rescind nomination

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By Josh Boswell In Los Angeles For Dailymail.Com

Shocking new details of an Emmy-nominated Palestinian filmmaker’s alleged links to a terrorist group have been unearthed by pro-Israel nonprofit groups.

Bisan Owda was nominated last month for an Emmy in the News and Documentary category, for her film ‘It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive’, aired on the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera channel AJ+.

But pro-Israel groups uncovered videos and photos showing Owda giving speeches at four rallies for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a US government-designated terrorist group – including one event where children were pictured wielding swords and attendees waved terror group flags.

Last month a pro-Israel group of top Hollywood professionals, the Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), called on Emmy runners to take back the gong nomination, claiming that Owda had given multiple speeches at PFLP rallies in Gaza.

But the organization behind the Emmys, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), doubled down, saying the claims were uncorroborated and from several years ago.

Now, researchers at US nonprofit the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) have documented further incidents they claim show Owda’s support for PFLP, and the CCFP have renewed their calls to rescind the Emmy nod.

Videos and pictures uncovered by MEMRI and the CCFP appear to show Owda speaking on stage at the terror group’s 2015 anniversary rally where children were photographed holding daggers and wearing PFLP bandannas, and masked men brandished swords.

Posts on the terror group PFLP’s own website describe the celebrated filmmaker as ‘Comrade Bisan Owda’ and picture her in military outfits giving speeches at the 2014, 2015, and 2016 anniversary rallies for the terror group in Gaza.

A 2018 PFLP post referred to Owda as a member of the organization’s youth wing, publishing pictures of her taking part in a panel discussion for the PFLPs Progressive Youth Union.

AJ+ said the claims of Owda’s terror links were ‘baseless allegations’.

Owda did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

The controversy was first sparked on August 19, when CCFP wrote an open letter to the Emmy organization calling on them to rescind Owda’s nomination over her alleged PFLP links.

In an August 20 email obtained by DailyMail.com, Academy President Adam Sharp replied to CCFP that they were ‘unable to corroborate these reports’ and found no ‘contemporary or active involvement by Owda with the PFLP organization’.

‘NATAS is aware of reports, cited in your letter and initially surfaced by a communications consultant in the region, that appear to show a then-teenaged Bisan Owda speaking at various PFLP-associated events between six and nine years ago,’ Sharp wrote to the CCFP.

‘NATAS has been unable to corroborate these reports, nor has it been able, to date, to surface any evidence of more contemporary or active involvement by Owda with the PFLP organization.

‘NATAS has found no grounds, to date, upon which to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material.’

Researchers at US nonprofit the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) found more recent controversial statements by Owda – including a reported Instagram post in which she appeared to justify the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel last year that killed 1,139 people.

‘For every action, there is a reaction,’ Owda posted on social media following the attacks, according to the Jerusalem Post.

In an August 20 email obtained by DailyMail.com, Academy President Adam Sharp replied to CCFP saying the claims were uncorroborated and from several years ago

‘This means: What was expected after 75 years of occupation and 17 years of siege?… What was expected of us?… Would the families of the prisoners remain silent?’

And MEMRI researchers highlighted that the day before her Emmy nomination, Owda posted a video on Instagram in which she repeatedly said: ‘Free Palestine from the River to the Sea’ – a phrase often interpreted to mean the eradication of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

As well as giving speeches and even allegedly helping organize the three PFLP anniversary rallies, MEMRI said Owda ‘hosted’ a fourth event in 2016 ‘held in honor of PFLP operatives who had been wounded in a ‘Day of Rage’ against Israel organized by the PFLP’, and published pictures of her speaking at the event.

MEMRI documented photos and videos from the 2015 anniversary rally where Owda gave a speech dressed in military camouflage clothing.

Attendees waved flags for Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, and masked PFLP operatives brandished swords and knives.

One photograph even shows a young child holding a dagger and wearing a PFLP bandanna.

The PFLP’s website described her as the ‘master of ceremonies’ at the 2016 anniversary rally.

The PFLP was designated a terrorist group by the US government in 1997. The group was behind two hijackings in 1968 and 1969, as well as a Rocket Propelled Grenade attack on planes at Orly Airport in Paris in 1975.

The PFLP was held responsible for assassinating Israeli lawmaker Rehavam Ze’evi in a Jerusalem hotel, conducting suicide bombings at a bus stop in 2003 and a Tel Aviv market in 2004, as well as a shooting in Jerusalem in October last year.

According to the US Office for the Director of National Intelligence, a PFLP bomb killed a 17-year-old girl near an Israeli settlement in August 2019, and ‘two PFLP-affiliated Palestinians’ killed three Americans and two other worshippers and injured 12 at an Israeli synagogue in 2014.

In an August 21 press release, the channel that aired Owda’s documentary, AJ+, said the allegations of her links to the PFLP were ‘baseless allegations’ and ‘an attempt to silence Bisan’.

‘The call for the Emmy nomination to be rescinded is nothing more than an attempt to deny an important perspective to the global audience on the war and its devastating impact on innocent civilians,’ AJ+ said.

Despite the new controversy surrounding Owda, her work has already received accolades and notoriety.

Her Emmy-nominated documentary It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive, which has received over 40 million views, was given a 2023 Peabody award, a coveted journalism gong, as well as the prominent Edward R. Murrow Award.

The Peabody website said it awarded Owda ‘for showing bravery and persistence in the midst of imminent danger, and for carrying a heavy journalistic burden as the entire world looks on’.

‘Owda’s frequent video and livestream reports from the Gaza Strip vividly document the Palestinian civilian experience under Israeli siege following Hamas’ attack on October 7,’ the organization said.

‘Reporting from her makeshift tent outside the medical center, she shows what survival looks like for her and the masses around her, reporting through tears and horror when Israeli forces strike an ambulance nearby.’

CCFP executive director Ari Ingel told DailyMail.com that he supported other Palestinian Emmy nominees, but that Owda’s terror ties should have ruled her out.

‘There are two other documentaries nominated in the same exact category about the war in Gaza, which we have no problem with, since these are voices that should be heard and stories that should be told,’ he said.

‘The NATAS decision to nominate Owda — whose goal with this project was to spread PFLP propaganda — alongside respected journalists and storytellers seeking the truth, sets a dangerous precedent for the future of objective journalism.

‘She is a longtime proud member of the terrorist group and supports their tactics wholeheartedly.

‘The Emmys have decided that supporting a member of a terrorist group that murders innocent men, women, and children is not a dealbreaker for their award.’

Owda’s documentary was aired on AJ+, a media organization owned by the government of Middle East nation Qatar.

In 2020 the Department of Justice ordered AJ+ to register as a foreign lobbying agent, saying it conducts ‘political activities’ on behalf of Qatar’s government and is designed to ‘influence American perceptions’ of ‘domestic policy’.

The CCFP says that AJ+ promotes ‘anti-Semitic’ content and even suggested Jews ‘benefited’ from the holocaust.

‘In 2019, AJ+ released a video captioned The Gas Chambers Killed Millions of Jews – That’s How the Story Goes. What Is the Truth behind the Holocaust and How Did the Zionist Movement Benefit from It?’ the organization said in a statement.

‘In December 2023, AJ+ released a 17-minute video downplaying the genocidal nature of [Palestine terror group] Hamas, arguing that they are merely ‘freedom fighters’ who are ‘resisting occupation and colonial violence.’

CCFP said that in a seemingly innocuous February 2024 Instagram post, AJ+ wrote: ‘People around the world demanded an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza this weekend. This is what global solidarity looks like.’

But behind the text was a photo of protesters holding placards that said in Arabic: ‘God is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel. Curse the Jews, victory to Islam.’

AJ+ said that they deleted the 2019 holocaust video and suspended the journalists who produced it in May 2019. The outlet declined to comment on CCFP’s other allegations.

NATAS did not provide a further response to DailyMail.com, but pointed to their August 20 letter to CCFP, which says that all submissions are ‘judged by experienced journalists from across multiple news organizations, serving in an independent, volunteer capacity’.

‘It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive was reviewed by two successive panels of independent judges, including senior editorial leadership from each significant U.S. broadcast news network,’ NATAS’ letter said.

‘It was selected for nomination from among more than 50 submissions in one of the year’s most competitive categories.’

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In Article

Jewish Nonprofit Calls on Emmys to Rescind Palestinian Journalist’s ‘Inexcusable’ Nom, Citing Ties to PFLP | Exclusive

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Bisan Atef Owda was nominated with AJ+ at news Emmys for series “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive”

Creative Community for Peace, an entertainment nonprofit, is calling for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to rescind an Emmy Awards nomination for Bisan Atef Owda, a Palestinian journalist, who the organization says is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

Owda was nominated at the 2024 News & Documentary Emmys in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form category, alongside Qatari-owned media outlet AJ+, for their series “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive.”

Nominations for the 45th annual awards were announced July 25, as selected by a far-reaching, anonymous body of “individuals with significant experience in the fields of broadcast and online journalism and documentary filmmaking at the national level,” according to NATAS.

Owda is a journalist, activist and filmmaker best known for her work on social media platforms like Instagram (4.7 million followers) and TikTok (191,500 followers), in which she documents her experience during the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. She won a Peabody Award for “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive” earlier this year.

CCFP discovered Owda’s long-standing ties to PFLP, which has been a designated terrorist organization in the U.S. since 1997. The journalist regularly spoke at PFLP rallies and hosted events to honor Palestinians injured or killed in violent confrontations with Israeli soldiers. In 2018, the PFLP explicitly referred to Owda as a member of the Progressive Youth Union of the organization.

Owda, AJ+ and NATAS did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. NATAS is a separate organization from the Television Academy, which awards the Primetime Emmys; NATAS is responsible for the News and Documentary Emmys, as well as the Daytime Emmys.

PFLP, which became known in the 1970s for its airplane hijackings, also participated in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israeli citizens and the kidnapping of hundreds of others.

According to CCFP, Owda and AJ+’s nomination violates NATAS’ Code of Ethical Conduct, which states that “NATAS and its Chapters have zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment or illegal, dishonest, unethical or otherwise harmful conduct.”

As a member of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, the pro-Israel nonprofit argues that her Emmy nomination “could reasonably be construed as contrary or detrimental to the best interests of the Academy”.

The nonprofit also pointed out Owda’s social media presence, which includes a recent X post that espouses an antisemitic conspiracy theory that Israel “is occupying every corner of the world.”

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

Ingel added, “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 highjacked by terrorists, and instead should continue to promote peace and tolerance through the arts.”

“The entertainment community, including the National Television Academy, should use its voice to help build bridges for peace and understanding,” CCFP chairman and cofounder David Renzer said.

“However, the Emmy nomination of Bisan Owda, someone with documented terrorism ties, is unfathomably irresponsible,” Renzer continued. “With it, the Academy is condoning violence and helping to normalize PFLP terrorism around the globe.”

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In Article

Entertainment Leaders Host Antisemitism Summit

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More than 200 entertainment insiders attend day-long event to learn, strategize, and implement steps to effectively combat antisemitism.

Entertainment leaders recently gathered for the first-ever “Countering Antisemitism: An Entertainment Industry Summit.” Launched by Jewish advocacy and entertainment experts, the Summit was jointly held by Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), an entertainment-industry nonprofit, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), leading entertainment and sports agency, and American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people.

Hundreds of entertainment professionals joined for the full day of programming. The Summit featured Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff; with Van Jones, political analyst; Eli Roth, actor/director; Scott Budnick, producer; and Jennifer Jason Leigh, actress.

The Summit comes at a particularly raw moment. Just seven months removed from the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, antisemitism around the globe is surging. The Summit’s launch and the number of attendees represent the entertainment industry’s growing consensus for increased awareness, education, and action on antisemitism. Throughout the event, executives, agents, producers, talent, and other entertainment professionals took part in roundtable discussions and strategy sessions on the state of antisemitism, allyship, and ways the entertainment industry can effect positive change.

Opening remarks from Deborah Marcus, CAA Foundation Executive, David Renzer, CCFP Chairman and co-founder, and Ted Deutch, AJC CEO kicked off the event.

Marcus said, “We need more than ever to take care of each other, to work together, to provide comfort and community, to celebrate and to mourn and to inspire a different narrative to counter antisemitism.”

Renzer said: “Creative Community for Peace is proud to convene the leaders of the entertainment industry with our partners at CAA and AJC in this crucial time – uniting our industry to combat hate, build allyship, support Israel, and collaborate to effect positive change.”

Deutch said: “History has shown that when antisemitism flourishes, it is never just the Jewish community that is at risk. It is a sign that there is something wrong in society, that our society and ultimately democracy is at risk. That’s why we do this work.”

Programming consistently highlighted the connection between the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel and the rising antisemitism around the globe. John Ondrasik, also known as Five for Fighting, an ally of the Jewish community, performed his song “OK.” Aligning with the Summit’s goal to spur action, Ondrasik has referred to his song as a moral statement, and “a call to action.”

Concluding the event was the screening of “Supernova,” a documentary co-directed by Duki Dror and Yossi Bloch about the Nova Music Festival where 364 civilians were murdered in southern Israel. Prior to the screening, a survivor of the Nova attack spoke to attendees. In closing, CCFP Executive Director Ari Ingel said, “Today’s Summit marks a pivotal step in our collective effort to combat antisemitism. Together, as entertainment industry leaders, we can ensure that our storytelling and public platforms serve the cause of peace and understanding, rather than vitriol and hate.”

CCFP, CAA, and AJC emphasized their commitment to continuing dialogue to ensure the entertainment industry takes actionable steps to combat antisemitism in all its forms. The partnering organizations hope that the Summit will serve as catalyst for the industry to launch additional initiatives and collective action to advocate for the Jewish people.

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In Article

Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons & More Sign Letter Rejecting Attempt to Bar Israel From 2024 Eurovision Song Contest

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Mayim Bialik, Helen Mirren, Scooter Braun, Selma Blair and more than 380 others also lent their names to open letter.
By: Gil Kaufman
A wide-ranging group of more than 400 musicians, actors, agents and managers and studio executives signed an open letter to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest rejecting attempts by some participating countries to bar Israel from participating in this year’s event. Among those lending their names to the letter from the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community for Peace were: Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, KISS’ Gene Simmons, Scooter Braun, Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Emmy Rossum, Mayim Bialik, Debra Messing, Diane Warren and Selma Blair, among many others.
The letter supports the European Broadcasting Union’s commitment to including Israel in this year’s contest amid calls last month from Swedish and Finnish artists demanding Israel’s exclusion from the contest over their belief that including the country “undermines” the spirit of the competition. The letters cited Israel’s ongoing response to the deadly Oct. 7 surprise assault on the nation from Hamas militants in which more than 1,200 Israelis — mostly civilians — were murdered, sexually assaulted and attacked and more than 250 were taken hostage.
“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter reads. “Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately into civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children.”
Artist manager Braun added, “Music is a place for unity not division. It is a language that should always bring us together. Artists should never be discriminated against for who they are, who they love, or where they’re born. These boycott efforts do nothing but distract from the uplifting and unifying power of music – something we need now more than ever.”
KISS’ Simmons, who was born in Israel to a Holocaust survivor mother, wrote, “Music unites people from all backgrounds. It’s the one language that everyone can understand. It’s a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world.”
Last month’s letter from a group of more than 1,000 Swedish artists — this year’s Eurovision will be held in the the Swedish city of Malmö from May 7-11 — requested that Israel be barred from participating over it’s “brutal” response to the Hamas attack, citing the “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza.
“We who sign this are 1,000 artists who believe in music as a unifying force. The Eurovision song contest began as a peace project with the ambition to unite countries and citizens through music,” read the Swedish letter, whose signers included Robyn, First Aid Kit and Fever Ray. “Allowing Israel’s participation undermines not only the spirit of the competition but the entire public service mission. It also sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences. Therefore, we appeal to the EBU: Exclude Israel from the Eurovision song contest 2024.”
To date, the 130-day war has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 28,000 Palestinians, the destruction of much of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure and the displacement of more than one million Gazans. The Swedish letter joined earlier, similar requests to exclude Israel from more than 1,400 artists in Finland and Iceland.
The open letter from Creative Community for Peace — the first public call of its kind from the entertainment industry voicing unequivocal support of Israel’s inclusion in the contest — highlights Eurovision’s ability to unify people from diverse backgrounds and music’s power to effect positive change in the world.
Other signatories to the open letter include: Julianna Marguiles, Ginnifer Goodwin, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., Skylar Astin, Atlantic Records Group CEO Julie Greenwald, Universal Music Publishing Group CEO Jody Gerson, Warner Records CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck, Patricia Heaton, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Disturbed’s David Draiman, Tom Arnold, Columbia Pictures chairman Tom Rothman and MRC co-founder/co-CEO Modi Wiczyk.
The letter notes that Israel has a long and storied Eurovision history — including hosting in 1979, 1999 and 2019 and winning in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018 — while offering up a diverse group of contestants representing the Palestinian, Ethiopian and LGBTQIA+ communities. “Furthermore, we believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music,” it reads.
“The annual Eurovision Song Contest embodies this unifying spirit. Every year, millions of people across Europe and around the world join in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of music. Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.” Click here to see the full letter.
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