Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon claims she was dropped by a talent agency and lost projects after pro-Palestinian comments. In a bombshell revelation, renowned Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon has admitted that her career has suffered severe consequences after she made controversial remarks about Jewish people at a pro-Palestinian rally last year.
Sarandon, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1995 film “Dead Man Walking,” told the UK’s Sunday Times that she was “dropped by [her] agency” and had “projects pulled” following her comments at the November 2023 rally in Manhattan.
The 78-year-old actress said in the interview, “My agency dropped me; they pulled my projects.” “People have used me as an example of what not to do if you want to continue working.”
Sarandon’s troubles started when she made anti-Semitic remarks at the rally. While voicing her support for the Palestinian cause amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel, Sarandon said that American Jews “are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country” and are “afraid of being Jewish at this time.”
Facing Backlash, Sarandon Issues Apology
Sarandon’s words quickly sparked outrage, with the prominent talent agency UTA cutting ties with her just days after the rally. Sarandon apologized on social media for her “terrible mistake” in phrasing.
“Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, ‘are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence,'” she wrote.
“This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true.” Sarandon acknowledged that her comments “diminished [ed] this reality and hurt [ed] people” and said she was “sorry [she] failed to do so” in her attempt to show solidarity against bigotry.
Career Iin Jeopardy As Sarandon Struggles To Find Work
Despite her apology, the damage to Sarandon’s career appears to be severe. The actress lamented the plight of others who have lost their jobs due to controversial political statements, telling The Times she is unsure if she will ever receive an offer for a major Hollywood role again.
“There are so many people out of work right now [since] November of last year… who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, and as substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire,” Sarandon said.
Currently, the once-celebrated actress is working on a low-budget bowling comedy called “The Gutter,” which is a stark contrast to the big-budget Hollywood productions she was previously recognized for. When asked if she thinks she’ll receive offers for such films in the future, Sarandon’s response was blunt: “I don’t know. [Not] anything in Hollywood.”
Sarandon Continues Activism, Undeterred By Consequences
Despite the heavy toll on her career, Sarandon has not backed down from her political activism. She has continued to speak at rallies protesting the Israel-Hamas war, including events on Capitol Hill and at Columbia University.
Sarandon’s unwavering stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has drawn the ire of many in Hollywood, including some of her former liberal allies. Her refusal to endorse Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election also made her pariah among influential figures in the industry.
As Sarandon navigates the fallout from her latest controversial remarks, the once-mighty actress faces an uncertain future in an industry that appears to have turned its back on her. Only time will tell if she can overcome the damage and reclaim her place in the Hollywood spotlight.
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