Swipes against antisemitism left one Emmy award-winning actress backpedaling after backlash from perpetually offended activists.
“What? Where’s your humanity?”
Known as much for her roles on TV dramas like “ER” and “The Good Wife” as for her outspoken social views, Julianna Margulies became the latest victim of intersectional impairment after calling out the evils of Hamas and the lack of those who support them. An interview with Deadline published Friday sought to amend that as she endeavored to be “100% clear.”
“I am horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities I truly love and respect,” the actress told the outlet. “I want to be 100% clear: Racism, homophobia, sexism, or any prejudice against anyone’s personal beliefs or identity are abhorrent to me, full stop.”
“Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination. I did not intend for my words to sow further division, for which I am sincerely apologetic,” cowed Margulies.
The actress’s backtrack came after remarks she had made on the Nov. 20 episode of “The Back Room with Andy Ostroy” podcast gained traction.
Included among her statements that social media users described as “an absolutely unhinged rant” was her assertion that alphabet activists remained oblivious to the way Islamic extremists respond to their preferences and deviancies.
“It’s those kids who are spewing this antisemitic hate that have no idea if they stepped foot in an Islamic country,” contended Margulies, “these people who want us to call them they/them, or whatever they want us to call them…it’s those people that will be the first people beheaded and their heads played with a soccer ball, like a soccer ball on the field. And that’s who they’re supporting: terrorists who don’t want women to have their rights.”
listen to julianna margulies go on an absolutely unhinged rant against black people for supporting palestine, claiming muslims would play soccer ball with the decapitated heads of black queer people if they could, and saying she knows better as someone who played a lesbian on tv. https://t.co/IhoKvLdU85 pic.twitter.com/OJZAzxDrA2
— سماح (@samah_fadil) November 30, 2023
The actress soon became the target of keyboard warriors, many of whom were slamming her as racist for pointing out how the terrorist group would consider individuals, like black lesbians supporting them, to be lesser than Jewish people.
Julianna Margulies turned off her instagram comments and I can’t see why. She had a ton of support! pic.twitter.com/INztiwxVa1
— Neoliberal tears (@Neolibtears) December 2, 2023
She’s saying out loud what some people I know believe, but won’t say to me openly.
I’ve accepted that I’ve been acquainted with vitriolic bigots who are okay with thousands of civilian Palestinians being slaughtered.
My eyes are open. #JuliannaMargulies pic.twitter.com/KOibbaU2VO
— Vonnetta L. West (@VonnettaLWest) December 1, 2023
Julianna Margulies’ hate for black people is deep. pic.twitter.com/QyM5KgoHhp
— Tia (@arollingbeauty) November 30, 2023
Per usual, left out of the fervent response to the actress’s comments was context and her own record of support for rainbow causes and the black community.
At one point she said, “I am the first person to jump up when something is wrong, as I think most Jews are, because we have been persecuted from the beginning of time, not just in World War II, but literally from the beginning of time when we first lived in Israel, way before anybody else.”
“Before one bomb was dropped on Oct. 7,” she reminded, “before one bomb was dropped in retaliation for a brutal, barbaric attack, people were already on their bullhorns saying the Jews deserved it. What? Where’s your humanity? They put babies in ovens and killed them.”
Margulies also noted, “Jews died for their cause. Where’s the history lesson in that? Who’s teaching these kids because the fact that the entire black community isn’t standing with us, to me, says either they just don’t know or they’ve been brainwashed to hate Jews.”
Additionally, to a favored argument among the radicals claiming that Israel remained occupied land, the actress stated, “Here’s what kills me. These kids are calling Jews colonialists. If you’re gonna go with that argument, kids, then get the f*ck out of America. Because you were not here first. Native Americans were here first and you owe them a big f*cking apology.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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