Actress Julianna Margulies has issued an apology after making controversial comments suggesting that Black people have been “brainwashed” to hate Jews. The comments were made during a podcast appearance where Margulies and host Andy Ostroy discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict and the overwhelming support for Palestine among young people, which they attributed to antisemitism.
Key Takeaway
Julianna Margulies apologizes for her controversial comments suggesting Black people are “brainwashed” to hate Jews. She denounces all forms of prejudice and claims to have dedicated her career to combating hate and discrimination.
Margulies specifically mentioned African-Americans and the LGBTQ+ community as being misguided in their views on the conflict, stating that they would be the first to face discrimination or violence in Muslim countries. She expressed surprise that Black people would speak out against Israel or Zionists, equating it to hating Jews in general. She also urged mandatory Holocaust education, particularly for the Black community, suggesting that they may not be fully aware of the history or have been taught to hate Jews.
These comments sparked significant backlash, prompting Margulies to issue a statement of apology. In her apology, she expressed horror at the offense her statements caused to the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, whom she claimed to love and respect. Margulies emphatically denounced racism, homophobia, sexism, and all forms of prejudice, stating that they are abhorrent to her.
Throughout her career, Margulies claims to have actively fought against hate and discrimination of any kind. She has worked to combat antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and promote unity against discrimination. Margulies emphasized that she did not intend to further divide with her remarks and sincerely apologized for any harm caused.
