Acting agency fires Susan Sarandon
She is one of those people in Hollywood who don't mince their words when it comes to political issues. In the past, Susan Sarandon has spoken out for or against a wide variety of issues. She also comments on events in the Middle East - but not without consequences.
She is an Oscar winner, a dazzling Hollywood figure and a political activist. But now Susan Sarandon has apparently overstepped the mark in the eyes of her acting agency. After taking part in several pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the United Talent Agency (UTA) unceremoniously pulled the ripcord and threw the 77-year-old out the door. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the UTA did not want to officially comment on the reasons. However, the reasons are obvious.
As pictures and video recordings show, Sarandon took part in a demonstration in front of the "New York Times" building on November 17, where anti-Jewish remarks were also loudly proclaimed. Sarandon herself is said to have joined in with the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", which denies Israel's right to exist.
Sarandon also gave a speech from which she is quoted as saying: "There are many people who are afraid. Who are afraid because they are Jewish. They are experiencing what it means to be a Muslim in this country."
Sarandon also reveals her views on her X account. Among other things, she shared a performance by former Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters, in which he sings in front of huge screens that read "Stop the genocide", among other things. Waters has been criticized for years for anti-Semitic statements and actions. Among other things, the Berlin police investigated him after a concert at which he performed in a leather coat with a red armband. According to a police spokesperson, the parallels to the SS uniform gave rise to the initial suspicion of incitement to hatred.
Long list of actions
The fate of the Palestinian people has been on Sarandon's mind for some time. In 2017, she produced a documentary about a catering service run by Palestinian women in a refugee camp in Beirut. In mid-October, she also signed an open letter from numerous Hollywood stars calling on US President Joe Biden to work towards an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Her colleagues Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett and Kristen Stewart were also among the signatories.
Susan Sarandon's list of political actions is long. In recent years, she has supported numerous protests, including being arrested several times - most recently in May 2023 during a demonstration for fair pay for restaurant employees. As early as 1999, she protested on the streets against the "racist search methods" of the New York police. In 2000, she demonstrated in front of the UN headquarters as an opponent of the death penalty and was taken into custody on the spot.
In 2003, Sarandon took to the streets against the US invasion of Iraq. She also took part in the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011. In the same year, she was harshly criticized for calling the then Pope Benedict XVI a Nazi. In 2018, she was also arrested when she demonstrated against the immigration policy of then US President Donald Trump.
Despite her activism and strong political opinions, Susan Sarandon's support for pro-Palestinian demonstrations and her use of controversial slogans have led to backlash within the entertainment industry. Her agency, UTA, chose to terminate her representation, citing her anti-Semitic remarks as a potential reason, although they did not officially confirm this.
Susan Sarandon's involvement in these events, including her defense of Roger Waters' anti-Semitic statements, has attracted criticism and scrutiny from various circles. Her advocacy for the Palestinian cause has been a mainstay in her activism, including producing a documentary and signing open letters calling for ceasefires.
Source: www.ntv.de
