Bradley Cooper Pays Price at Oscars for Association with Hamas Supporters

Edited by: TJVNews.com

The apparent inconsistency in Bradley Cooper’s political stance regarding the conflict in the Middle East has been cited as a contributing factor to the film Maestro’s noticeable absence during awards season, according to insiders familiar with the situation.

As was recently reported in the Daily Mail of the UK, despite high expectations for Cooper’s involvement in the Netflix biopic about the life of renowned composer Leonard Bernstein, Maestro failed to secure major accolades at prestigious events such as the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and most recently, the Oscars.

The 49-year-old actor, who is romantically linked with Palestinian-American supermodel Gigi Hadid, found himself embroiled in controversy due to his public statements regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The report in the Daily Mail noted that Cooper’s oscillation in support for Israel and Hamas was perceived as incongruent with the narrative of his film, ultimately impacting his chances of recognition within the industry.

“Bradley’s flip-flopping on his support for Israel was partly to blame for him being shut out this awards season,” a source revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com. “It was not aligned with his message for this film,” the source added, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics influencing the awards circuit.

Cooper’s involvement in advocating for both Israeli and Palestinian causes raised eyebrows among industry insiders, with some questioning the actor’s decision to take a stance rather than maintaining neutrality, as per the information provided in the Daily Mail report. In October, Cooper joined hundreds of celebrities in signing a letter urging the release of the 132 hostages held in captivity in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. However, just days later, he also lent his support to an open letter urging President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in the conflict.

“Whether it be support for his girlfriend or his true beliefs, he signed his name on both letters,” the insider continued. “You can’t be supporting Israel and then supporting Palestine. He should have stayed neutral,” the source concluded, according to the DailyMail.com, highlighting the perceived inconsistency in Cooper’s advocacy efforts.

Prior to its unveiling, the biopic found itself embroiled in a storm of scrutiny, with Cooper’s portrayal of legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein coming under fire.

The initial backlash centered around Cooper’s decision to utilize a prosthetic nose for his role as Bernstein, a move that ignited fierce debate within the entertainment industry. The report on the DailyMail.com web site said that chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg of the Hollywood Reporter condemned the decision as “problematic,” while others went as far as labeling it “anti-Semitic” and accused Cooper of engaging in “jewface.”

However, amidst the uproar, Bernstein’s children came to Cooper’s defense, voicing their support for the actor’s portrayal and expressed their belief that their father would have approved of the prosthetic, as was explained in the report on the DailyMail.com web site. The Anti-Defamation League echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Cooper’s portrayal of Bernstein did not perpetuate harmful stereotypes but instead offered a nuanced depiction of the legendary conductor.

In addition to the prosthetic controversy, Cooper’s dedication to his craft also came under scrutiny, particularly his extensive preparation for a pivotal scene in which he conducts music. Despite spending six years honing his conducting skills for a mere six-minute scene, Cooper’s efforts failed to resonate with some critics and audiences.

“His portrayal of Bernstein also didn’t help,” a source revealed to the DailyMail.com web site. “His nose was talked about so much after it angered many who accused him of ‘Jewface’. Also, people who were expecting to see the composer actually saw a movie about a woman who was married to a bisexual man in the mid-century,” the source added, highlighting the disconnect between audience expectations and the film’s narrative focus.

Amidst the fallout, conflicting narratives have emerged, shedding light on the complex intersection of politics, representation, and artistic recognition.

According to one source, Cooper’s failure to secure significant wins this awards season can be attributed, in part, to dissatisfaction among Jewish viewers with his portrayal in Maestro. “This overshadowed the storyline, and many Jewish people feel like he did not do him any justice,” the source lamented to the DailyMail.com, highlighting the discord surrounding the film’s depiction of legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein.

However, a contrasting perspective emerges from a second source, who argued that Cooper’s awards season snub cannot be solely attributed to backlash over his portrayal or political stance. “This film didn’t win any awards from any guilds,” the source noted, challenging the notion that Cooper’s supposed missteps alienated Jewish voters or industry insiders, according to the DailyMail.com report. “There are plenty of Jewish people in the Academy that did vote for Maestro,” the source added, suggesting a more nuanced interpretation of the film’s reception.

DailyMail.com reached out to representatives for Cooper and the Academy for comment, underscoring the ongoing scrutiny and speculation surrounding Maestro’s awards season trajectory.

The controversy surrounding Cooper’s awards season performance coincided with heightened tensions fueled by the conflict in the Middle East, further complicating the narrative. The DailyMail.com also mentioned that Cooper’s girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, found herself embroiled in controversy after using her platform to speak out in defense of the Palestinian people. In a series of online posts, Hadid accused Israel of egregious human rights violations, drawing criticism and backlash from various quarters.

The Palestinian-American model later issued a public apology, acknowledging her mistake and expressing regret for the misinformation she spread. “I understand that with the power of my platform comes a huge responsibility,” Hadid acknowledged, the DailyMail.com reported, emphasizing the importance of accountability and learning from one’s mistakes.

Amidst the furor, concerns have emerged about potential ramifications for her partner Bradley Cooper, as the couple navigates the delicate balance between personal convictions and professional aspirations.

A source close to the situation revealed to DailyMail.com the underlying anxieties fueling Hadid’s apology, expressing her apprehension about inadvertently causing “collateral damage” for Cooper amidst his pursuit of awards season success. “She doesn’t want to provide any collateral damage to his career and the relationship they are trying to pursue,” the source emphasized, as was indicated in the DailyMail.com report. It shed light on Hadid’s desire to shield Cooper from the fallout of her actions.

As Cooper vies for recognition in the competitive landscape of Hollywood accolades, Hadid’s missteps have cast a shadow over his endeavors, raising concerns about potential inquiries and distractions surrounding her controversial remarks. “She doesn’t want to ever have him answering any questions about anything she does or says,” the source elaborated, underscoring Hadid’s determination to safeguard Cooper’s professional trajectory.

In the aftermath of her apology, Hadid is taking proactive steps to mitigate the impact of her actions, opting to retreat from the limelight in the coming weeks in hopes of allowing tensions to subside and affording space for reflection and reconciliation. “She wants to mend some fences, learn from it all, and not be canceled as she feels she made a mistake,” the insider revealed to the DailyMail.com, thus offering insight into Hadid’s earnest efforts to navigate the fallout with integrity and humility.

Meanwhile, despite Cooper’s formidable performance in Maestro, the coveted Best Actor accolade eluded him, with Irish actor Cillian Murphy clinching the honor for his portrayal of the “father of the atomic bomb” in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

As Cooper and Hadid navigate the aftermath of this controversy, the resilience of their relationship and the trajectory of their respective careers remain subjects of intense speculation and scrutiny. In a landscape characterized by rapid shifts and heightened scrutiny, the couple faces the daunting task of reconciling personal beliefs with the demands of public life, grappling with the enduring challenge of balancing authenticity with accountability.