Hollywood's Silence on Gaza: More Profitable Than Principles?
Juliet Stevenson calls out the entertainment industry's resounding silence on Gaza, an observation entirely unsurprising to those tracking the money trails that often dictate public morality in Hollywood. When it comes to criticizing governments funding the destruction of Gaza, for instance, the silence of many A-listers is as deafening as the quiet around the multi-million dollar lobbying efforts
that shape Washington's foreign policy. One might wonder if the industry's vocal activism for other causes dissipates when confronting issues tied to powerful, well-funded foreign policy groups. For instance, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent over $7.1 million on lobbying in 2023 alone, and its Super PAC funneled millions more into election campaigns. (Source:
OpenSecrets.org) While some actors bravely speak out, many others appear to prioritize their careers over challenging entrenched interests, a pragmatic choice in an industry notoriously quick to 'cancel' dissent against establishment narratives.