LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Julianna Margulies blasted Hollywood celebrities on Wednesday, October 18, for failing to unite against a wave of antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war.
The Emmy-winning actor said she continues to ask herself why so many prominent Hollywood figures are not speaking out in favor of Jews at the Variety Hollywood & Antisemitism Summit, organized by Shine A Light and The Margaret & Daniel Loeb Foundation.
Margulies said she is "disheartened" by the lack of response and that she is "trying to understand and work around why every single person in our industry isn’t standing up."
"I don’t understand. It is shocking," she further added.
Margulies, whose parents were both Jewish, remarked, "Maybe they are afraid, I honestly don’t know what they are afraid of, losing maybe followers, it’s just insane to me."
"The last thing I thought in my life is that I would be the one actress speaking up for Jews. I hope I inspire other people to come out and talk and use their voice and use their platform to draw attention to this," Margulies added.
Julianna Margulies is not concerned by non-Jewish actors playing Jewish roles
Speaking out against Jewish stereotypes in films, Margulies also asked why a character, such as "Laura Peterson," whom she portrays on 'The Morning Show', may gleefully wear a cross or other amulet but not a Star of David.
As Laura Peterson, the news anchor on Apple TV+'s 'The Morning Show', Margulies narrated a tale about how she eventually regretted allowing her character to wear a cross during the show.
As part of the outfit for the Laura Peterson character, Margulies claimed that a show costume designer put a cross around her neck during a fitting.
It was her character's travels as a journalist that the designer meant for the cross to represent.
Margulies asserted to Variety, "I did not think twice. I put the cross on. And then the character became popular. I went in the next season and there in my dressing room was the cross."
Upon wrapping up filming for the second season of 'The Morning Show', Margulies became the leader of a Holocaust teaching program at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.
"Why did I not say, hold on a minute, why am I wearing a cross?" she wondered.
Margulies emphasized that she is not inherently concerned by non-Jewish actors playing Jewish roles, nor does she mind portraying characters from other religions.
Margulies also pointed out that although she is married to a man and has children, her character on 'Morning Show' is a lesbian single woman.
Internet applauds Julianna Margulies' condemnation of Hollywood
Following the release of the Variety Hollywood & Antisemitism Summit conversation clip, Internet users took to the comment section to praise the actress for speaking up against the terror caused due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
One X user praised Margulies and said, "Thank you for speaking up Julianna!!! For speaking up against antisemitism, against terror, and for the right of the state of Israel to exist peacefully! Thank you!"
Another user said, "Well said Juliana!"
"Well said Juliana! Hollywood needs to stand up against antisemitism and terror," said a third online supporter.
A fourth praised, "Thank you for saying that. Shame on the others that don't," while another added, "Thanks for speaking the truth!"
Someone else chimed in, "Thank you, every little bit of support warms our hearts during these unbelievable days."
Pro-Palestinian protests against Israel have taken place in US cities and other places, and Jewish groups have reported an increase in antisemitic events, many of which have mentioned the ongoing conflict.
