Jewish Hollywood stars claim Oscars diversity rules are anti-Semitic
David Schwimmer and Debra Messing are among big names criticising the film awards for ignoring religion in inclusion efforts.
A group of Jewish entertainment figures, including the actors David Schwimmer, Debra Messing and Julianna Margulies, has criticised the Oscars for diversity rules allegedly “steeped in” anti-Semitism.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the rules in 2020, which require productions to feature what it considers “underrepresented groups” to qualify for best picture.
The groups include women, gay people and racial or ethnic minority actors who are Asian, Hispanic, black or Native American; religious groups, however, are not considered.
An open letter organised by the advocacy group Jew in the City and signed by more than 200 people in the entertainment industry states that “an inclusion effort that excludes Jews is both steeped in and misunderstands anti-Semitism”. The letter adds: “It erases Jewish peoplehood and perpetuates myths of Jewish whiteness, power, and that racism against Jews is not a major issue or that it’s a thing of the past.”
The document – with signatories including the producers Greg Berlanti and Marta Kauffman alongside Schwimmer, the Friends star, Messing of Will & Grace, and The Good Wife’s Margulies – says that anti-Semitic incidents “are at an all-time high” since the October terror attacks in Israel.
“While many mistakenly believe that Judaism is only a religion, Jews are actually an ethnic group, with varied spiritual practices that not all observe,” the letter says. It calls for Jewish people to be added to the Academy’s list of underrepresented groups and says that it is an untrue anti-Semitic trope that Jews are overrepresented in Hollywood.
“There are very few films about Jews, aside from ones about the Holocaust,” the group says. “Moreover, when Jewish characters are featured, they are often played by non-Jews – a rare practice for other marginalised groups.”
Cillian Murphy, the Irish actor, is not Jewish but is widely tipped to win the best actor Oscar for Oppenheimer, in which he played the father of the atomic bomb, who was Jewish.
The letter, also signed by the actors David Baddiel, Josh Gad and Mayim Bialik, concludes: “There is a duty for the entertainment world to do its part in disseminating whole and human depictions of Jews, to increase understanding and empathy in viewers in these dangerous times.”
The Academy, which oversees the Oscars, has been accused of ignoring the Jewish contribution to Hollywood. Jewish immigrants such as Jack Warner, Samuel Goldwyn and Louis B. Mayer founded the studio system and played a crucial role in building the American film industry. However, when the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opened in Los Angeles in 2021 their contribution was barely recognised, with organisers instead focusing on the efforts of other minority groups. An exhibition showcasing the contribution of Hollywood’s Jewish founding fathers is due to open in May.
Hollywood, widely viewed as a left-leaning industry that is hostile to conservatives, usually finds itself in agreement on political issues. However, the industry was divided following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October.
Maha Dakhil, a talent agent whose clients include Tom Cruise, was chastised by her agency after accusing Israel of conducting a genocide.
Gal Gadot, the Israeli star of the Wonder Woman films, organised a Los Angeles screening showing footage of the Hamas attacks but the event was marred by clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups.
The Writers Guild of America, the union representing Hollywood screenwriters, was criticised for failing to issue a statement condemning Hamas despite having released similar messages in support of Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movement.
The Times
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