A famous actress has faced criticism for saying that Jewish people are "getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim" during the war with Hamas.
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The Oscar-winning performer, now in her late 70s, participated in several New York gatherings where she joined in chanting a slogan used by pro-Palestinian advocates, including Hamas, that is viewed by some as promoting antisemitism and calling for the complete destruction of Israel.
This slogan has taken on new meaning in light of Hamas' deadly attacks across southern Israel on October 7 and Israel's subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
It's possible Sarandon thought she was being insightful when she said: "There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country" during a recent rally in New York. That comment has garnered much criticism, and not only from Jews.
The actress, known for her role in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," has also used her platform on social media to share posts that celebrate Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, the same Roger Waters who has faced persistent accusations of antisemitism over the years.
"Despite attempts by the Israeli lobby to cancel the event, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd took the stage in Uruguay, donning a kefiyyah and advocating for an end to the Israeli genocide in Gaza," she posted on the X platform.
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Susan Sarandon during the pro-Palestinian rally in New York
(Photo: Instagram screenshot)
In response to Sarandon's controversial statements, Asra Nomani, a journalist of Muslim-American descent, expressed her disappointment. Nomani emphasized the prosperous life Sarandon and her immigrant parents have enjoyed in the United States, implicitly criticizing the actress's remarks.
"Hi there @SusanSarandon," she tweeted. "Let me tell you what it means to be Muslim in America."
Nomani then proceeded to outline the liberties that she and her parents, immigrants from India, cherish in their new homeland.
She shared that her father, a professor, was able to secure a tenured position in academia, and her mother had the freedom to not wear a headscarf and even start her own enterprise in Morgantown, West Virginia, the town they chose as their new home.
Nomani – who became a fervent advocate for the rights of Palestinian women and strongly opposed to radical Islam after Daniel Pearl, a friend of hers, was beheaded by radical Islamists in Pakistan in 2002 – concluded her message by stating, "Please don't minimize the experience of Jewish Americans by sanitizing the hell that it is for Muslims living in Muslim countries and vilifying America for the life – and freedoms – she offers Muslims like my family."
She further challenged Sarandon to experience life as a Muslim woman in a Muslim-majority country, suggesting: "You will come back to America and kiss the land beneath your feet."
Waters, a figure often associated with allegations of antisemitism, suggested in a conversation with journalist Glenn Greenwald that the Hamas terror attacks were amplified by Israelis "inventing stories about beheading babies."
Friday saw Sarandon participating in a rally held in the vicinity of Penn Station in New York City, which caused quite a stir.
The actress, recognized for her left-leaning activism, her protests alongside Jane Fonda against the Iraq war, her dedication to environmental causes, and her endorsement of Bernie Sanders, led the crowd in some controversial chants.
She echoed the phrase "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" – a statement often interpreted as a call for the annihilation of Israel, as reported by the New York Post.
In an further attempt to justify her viewpoint, she said: "It's important to listen, it's important to have facts. You don't have to go through the entire history of that region, you just have to show the babies that are dying in incubators. Those images are enough to show you that something is drastically wrong. We need a cease-fire now."