Julianna Margulies Sparks Controversy with Comments on Hitler, Jim Crow South, & Israel-Hamas Conflict
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Emmy-winning actress Julianna Margulies is facing criticism after making controversial statements about Black and LGBTQ Americans during an appearance on The Back Room with Andy Ostroy podcast, according to a recent report on the Deadline.com web site. The actress expressed her dismay at the reaction, stating that she is “horrified” and offering a public apology, the report added.
*Julianna Margulies* is being pilloried for speaking truth: that Jews have supported every single civil rights cause every time; and now that antisemitism is rising, the beneficiaries of those causes are ignoring or turning against the Jews.pic.twitter.com/ZudwUKwUdS
— 🇺🇸Michael Jaffe🇮🇱🟦 (@michael_jaffe) December 1, 2023
The actress, known for her roles in ER and The Good Wife, criticized the Black community for not “embracing” Jews and made provocative statements linking Adolf Hitler’s actions to the Jim Crow South.
As was reported on the Deadline.com web site, Margulies, who is Jewish, took issue with support for Palestine during the podcast, which led to strong backlash after audio clips were shared on social media. The actress asserted that she did not intend to sow further division and apologized for any offense caused, the Deadline report added.
During the podcast, Margulies commented on anti-Semitism, expressing frustration with what she perceived as a lack of uproar over the use of wrong pronouns on college campuses compared to the issue of anti-Semitism, Deadline.com reported. She also made controversial remarks about a “Black lesbian club” at Columbia University, claiming they put up signs saying “No Jews allowed.”
“As someone who plays a lesbian journalist on The Morning Show, I am more offended by it as a lesbian than I am as a Jew,” she said, according to the Deadline.com report. “Because I wanna say to them, ‘You f—ing idiots. You don’t exist. You’re even lower than the Jews. A. You’re Black, and B. You’re gay and you’re turning your back against the people who support you?’ Because Jews, they rally around everybody.”
The actress faced criticism for linking support for Palestine to terrorism and making sweeping generalizations about certain groups, the Deadline.com report also said. Margulies emphasized her commitment to combating hate throughout her career and expressed regret for any unintended consequences of her words.
The incident has sparked a conversation about the importance of sensitivity and accuracy in public statements, particularly concerning hot button topics such as anti-Semitism and discrimination. Margulies’ apology aims to clarify her stance and mitigate the impact of her controversial remarks, Deadline.com report.
In an exclusive statement to Deadline.com, Margulies said, “I am horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities I truly love and respect. I want to be 100% clear: Racism, homophobia, sexism, or any prejudice against anyone’s personal beliefs or identity are abhorrent to me, full stop. Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end anti-Semitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination. I did not intend for my words to sow further division, for which I am sincerely apologetic.”
During the podcast, Margulies claimed that Hitler “got his entire playbook from the Jim Crow South,” suggesting a connection between the Holocaust and racial segregation in the United States, as was indicated in the Deadline.com report. She expressed disappointment that the Black community is not standing with Jews, asserting that during the civil rights movement, Jews stood side by side with Black individuals to fight for their rights, the report added.
Margulies also addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict, using the term “colonialists” and suggesting that young Black people who support this viewpoint should leave the country. The Deadline report also said that she argued that if they consider Jews colonialists, they should apologize to Native Americans, implying that Black individuals owe Native Americans an apology for not being the original inhabitants of America.
The actress, who has received three Emmy Awards for her performances and is known for her advocacy against hate, expressed frustration with what she perceives as a lack of understanding or possible brainwashing within the Black community regarding Jews, the Deadline.com report added.