Susan Sarandon Says Hollywood Used Her As An ‘Example Of What Not To Do’ After Palestine Rally Remark

Susan Sarandon is seemingly lamenting the loss of her Hollywood career after her pro-Palestine remarks led to her agency dropping her.

At a New York pro-Palestine rally, the famous actress made some controversial remarks about Jews, which she later apologized for.

Despite industry backlash, Susan Sarandon remains active, supporting humanitarian causes in Gaza and other social issues, like migrant rights and gun violence.

Susan Sarandon Discusses The Effect Of Her Pro-Palestine Stance On Her Hollywood Career

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Sarandon shared her concerns about her future in Hollywood after her outspoken comments at a pro-Palestine rally last November led to United Talent Agency, run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer, dropping her.

Reflecting on how the controversy has significantly impacted her career, Sarandon shared: “I was dropped by my agency, and my projects were pulled. I’ve been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.”

She also noted that since last November, “there are so many people out of work who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, or liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire.”

When asked if she believes she’ll be cast in major Hollywood films again, the actress replied, “I don’t know. Not anything in Hollywood.’

Sarandon sparked controversy for her comments at a pro-Palestine rally in New York City when she compared Jewish people’s experience to the struggles of Muslims.

The Oscar-winning actress suggested that Jewish people were “getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim” during the ongoing violence in the Middle East.

Sarandon later issued an apology, explaining that she had not intended to speak at the rally but was invited to address the crowd.

She clarified that she aimed to “highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

In an Instagram post, the 78-year-old actress reflected on her mistake, stating: “Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, ‘are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.”

“This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently, Jews have been strangers to persecution when the opposite is true,” she continued.

An Indie Film Production Company Dropped Susan Sarandon

Despite issuing an apology for her controversial remarks, Sarandon still faced a major loss.

Page Six reported last year December, that an indie film production company decided to no longer work with the movie star on a short film project.

“As a company, PTO Films would like to make it clear that Susan Sarandon’s views do not reflect the opinions of our organization,” the company’s co-founder David Barroso told the news outlet.

He added, “We were considering her for a short film, but due to her recent statements, we have decided to pursue other options.”

Sarandon was set to star as Dr. Sylvia Mansfield in the company’s film titled “Slipping Away,” a thriller about a man with Schizophrenia who “struggles with his own psychosis and his wife’s extramarital affair.”

She Reflected On Her Activism Amid Hollywood Blacklisting And Commitment To Justice

Earlier in July, Sarandon apologized again for her controversial remarks, calling her “phrasing a terrible mistake” in an interview for Elle Spain.

She reiterated her commitment to calling for an end to the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza, explaining that her long-standing motivation has been to fight against injustice.

The actress acknowledged that her outspoken views had led to her blacklisting by a significant portion of the entertainment industry.

Despite this, she maintained that the focus should be on halting the loss of life in both Israel and Palestine, stressing that “no one deserves to die this way.”

The actress also reflected on how injustice has always been a source of pain for her, tracing her sensitivity to social causes back to her childhood in Washington, D.C., during the 1960s.

The era, marked by the Vietnam War and the assassinations of figures like Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., shaped her worldview.

“I didn’t have to force myself to educate myself in this sense, it was the only plausible option,” she said.

Susan Sarandon Still Advocates For Palestinians Despite Backlash

Despite the backlash, Sarandon has continued her vocal support for Palestinian rights, recently donning a pro-Palestinian button on the red carpet at the New York premiere of her latest film, “The Fabulous Four.”

Earlier this year, in April, she took part in a Cinema for Gaza auction, joining other prominent actors and directors like Paul Mescal, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Tessa Thompson, Louis Theroux, Jonathan Glazer, and Stellan Skarsgård to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Palestine.

In addition to being pro-Palestine, Sarandon’s activism has long been evident through her participation in protests for various causes, including AIDS awareness, opposition to the Iraq War, and advocating against gun violence.