Susan Sarandon dropped by talent agency after speech at pro-Palestine rally

‘There are a lot of people that are afraid, that are afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country,’ the Oscar-winner said.

“People are questioning, people are standing up, people are educating themselves,” Sarandon said at a pro-Palestine rally. Picture: Jason Edwards

Actor Susan Sarandon has been dropped by her Hollywood talent agency, UTA, following her participation in a pro-Palestine event in New York on November 17.

The Academy Award-winning performer has attended several rallies advocating for Palestine. In a speech that stirred controversy, Sarandon remarked, “There are a lot of people that are afraid, that are afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.”

In her address to protesters, Sarandon urged them to “be strong, be patient, be clear and stand with anybody who has the courage to speak out.” She expressed gratitude to “the Jewish community who’s come out to have our backs.”

In a video shared on TikTok, Sarandon underscored the significance of voicing support for Palestine amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, stating, “People are questioning, people are standing up, people are educating themselves, people are stepping away from brainwashing that started when they were kids.”

@stephaniekeith17

Actor Susan Sarandon expresses support for Palestine and says being anti-Palestinian is American brain washing #palestine#susansarandon#protest#freepalestine#nyc

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Sarandon faced further scrutiny for sharing pro-Palestine posts, including those from Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters, who has been previously accused of antisemitism. As reported by Deadline, Sarandon was dropped by UTA, with whom she signed in 2014.

The Israel-Hamas War has sown division in the entertainment industry. Maha Dakhil, a top agent at Creative Artists Agency, resigned from the agency’s board last month after sharing an Instagram story critical of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 attacks. The post read, “You’re currently learning who supports genocide. What’s more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening.”

Several Hollywood figures, including Jerry Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, co-authored an open letter condemning Hamas attacks on Israel and criticised the silence of the Writers Guild of America during the invasion. “When terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews … the Guild stayed silent,” the letter read.