Julianna Margulies, during a recent appearance on The Back Room with Andy Ostroy podcast, criticized what she perceives as a lack of support for Israel from the Black and LGBTQ community in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Margulies linked the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. to Donald Trump’s actions in 2017 and expressed disappointment that certain communities were not backing Israel’s response to the Hamas attack on October 7.
Margulies emphasized her past support for social justice causes such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ rights, expressing frustration that similar support wasn’t reciprocated during the Israel-Hamas conflict. She attributed what she views as an anti-Israel sentiment among young people to TikTok, suggesting the platform should be banned.
Furthermore, Margulies warned progressive individuals about potential consequences if they were to find themselves in Islamic countries, asserting that those supporting gender pronouns could face harm from terrorists who oppose women’s rights and LGBTQ rights.
Later in the podcast, Margulies returned to the topic, claiming that some in the Black community were not adequately supportive of Israel and cited an incident at Columbia University involving a Black lesbian club disinviting Zionists from an event. She expressed more offense as a lesbian than as a Jew regarding the incident.
Margulies also criticized Hollywood for not strongly standing up for Israel and expressed dismay at the MeToo movement’s silence on the Hamas attacks. The conversation shifted to the perceived lack of Holocaust education in the U.S., with Margulies referencing Ken Burns’ documentary.
She concluded by expressing frustration with what she sees as a lack of support from the entire Black community, suggesting that they may be unaware or have been “brainwashed” to harbor anti-Jewish sentiments.
Following the podcast’s release on November 21, clips gained traction on social media, sparking a strong reaction. Some criticized Margulies for her tone and suggested that solidarity should not be unconditional. Prominent figures, including Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah and comedian Joel Kim Booster, criticized Margulies, while Eric Deggans of NPR suggested her comments were counterproductive.
Margulie’s representatives have been contacted for comment and clarification on her remarks regarding Black support for Palestine.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
