Recent pushback from Hollywood against antisemitism hardly tells the whole story as Jon Lovitz spoke about his own experiences, primarily “from other Jews.”
(Video: Fox News Digital)
While hardly a silver lining given the magnitude of the tragedy that took place on Oct. 7, Hamas’ terror attack against Israel brought out the worst in many people and exposed an underlying hatred of Jews that had permeated all areas of society. From indoctrinated college students to Islamist activists, anti-Israel demonstrations cropped up around the world, but the actor and comedian expressed in his experience, it was always in Hollywood.
“All the antisemitism that I’ve ever experienced in Hollywood is from other Jews,” Lovitz told Fox News Digital during a recent interview.
In particular, he recounted losing a role in the 2000 film “What Planet Are You From?” and explained, “I was supposed to do a movie with Garry Shandling and Garry — we were very close friends. They had a script reading, and he goes, ‘This is your part, it’s a great part.’ Then they start making the movie, and I wasn’t in it.”
“It was Greg Kinnear. And I know Greg. Greg’s a great guy, fine actor, friend, you know — he’s great. But I said, ‘What happened? I thought you said the part was mine.’ And my manager was Brad Grey, who’s Jewish, producing the movie, said ‘Well Mike Nichols,’ who directed the movie, ‘felt you and Garry were too much alike,'” the Saturday Night Live alum detailed. “And I know Garry. I go, ‘I’m nothing like Garry.’ I go, ‘what do you — what? What are you talking about?'”
“He goes, ‘Well, you know.’ I go, ‘No, what?’ He goes, ‘You know, Jewish. You’re both Jewish.’ I said, ‘What?!’ And this is coming from Mike Nichols, who’s Jewish,” explained Lovitz.
“And I’ve just had others where people say to me antisemitic stuff, and they’re Jewish, and, in show business, and it’s…it’s disgusting,” he added.
Lovitz has been particularly vocal about the Israel-Hamas war and routinely countered propaganda on social media. On Monday, one person reacted to such an exchange with surprise about the outspoken actor and the comedian replied, “How can I NOT stand up? This is how it started in Germany. This is about survival! When Jews fight back, people don’t like it. And people say I’m doing this for attention. Hardly. But if people are paying attention to what I’m saying, that’s their choice. I don’t control that. Although, all the antisemites will say, ‘No, but the Jews do! They control everything!'”
How can I NOT stand up? This is how it started in Germany.
This is about survival!
When Jews fight back, people don’t like it.
And people say I’m doing this for attention.
Hardly.
But if people are paying attention to what I’m saying, that’s their choice. I don’t control that.… https://t.co/nzvOSR8Dry— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) November 27, 2023
In addition to recounting how European Jews found their way into the movie industry because they were barred from other opportunities, Lovitz contended a consensus within his Jewish circles that independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the epitome of a “self-loathing Jew.”
“All my friends that are Jewish, like, they go, Bernie Sanders, self-loathing Jew. You know, what’s wrong with this guy? And that’s what that is,” he explained. “‘Oh, that’s not true.’ Yeah, it is. Yeah, you are. ‘I don’t like it when people make money. It’s not right. They should only make so much. And then it’s enough.’ Well, you have three homes. You should just have one. ‘That’s none of your business.'”
Lovitz was not alone in calling out antisemitism as other celebrities have spoken out since Oct. 7 demanding social media companies curb the spread of pro-Hamas and pro-terrorist propaganda on their platforms. Meanwhile, peers like Susan Sarandon, were met with backlash for aligning themselves against Israel, in her case at the cost of getting dropped by her talent agency of nearly a decade.
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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