Actor Jon Lovitz suggests Hollywood ‘afraid’ to condemn pro-Palestinian protests

Actor and comedian Jon Lovitz suggested Wednesday that Hollywood actors may be “afraid” to denounce the pro-Palestinian protests that have disrupted college campuses across the United States.

Lovitz is Jewish; out loud In response to recent protests, he told Fox News host Jesse Watters that he was recently asked why he was speaking out about the issue and why other Hollywood figures weren’t speaking out.

“People say, ‘Why are you speaking up?’ Why aren’t people in Hollywood who are much more famous than me saying anything?” he told Fox News’ “Jesse Waters Primetime.” He spoke at “And my answer is, I don’t know. I think they’re either afraid of losing, or they’re afraid that losing will hurt their business.”

“But I think it’s so terrible, why can’t you say anything? Like you have to,” he continued.

Protests calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war have erupted on multiple university campuses across the United States in recent days, with several students arrested and suspended and a heavy police presence.

Although many of the protests were reportedly peaceful, concerns have been raised for the safety of Jewish students, especially during this week’s Jewish holiday of Passover.

“To the students @Columbia , and other students at universities across the United States are preventing Jewish children from entering their schools to go to class: You must be smart. Are you blaming your 18-year-old classmate from America for the actions of the Israeli government? ” Lovitz I wrote to X on Monday. “What on earth are you being taught? Think logically and stop being a sheep and being taken advantage of by professors.”

Columbia University gained national attention last week when hundreds of students occupied the center of campus, calling for a ceasefire and an end to U.S. military aid to Gaza. New York police, called in by university officials, arrested more than 100 student protesters.

Concerns have also been raised about the prevalence of anti-Semitic rhetoric, although several protest groups have rejected the characterization of recent demonstrations as anti-Semitic.

“We are frustrated by the media distractions that focus on inflammatory individuals who do not represent us,” protest leaders said. wrote in a statement Sunday. “Our members were misidentified by a politically motivated mob.”

Protest groups noted that a significant number of protesters were Jewish, and a large group protested on Monday. Passover seder From the Columbia University protest camp.

“I don’t see how this doesn’t upset everyone,” Lovitz said. “And I don’t understand either because Israel is a democracy and Israel is our ally. So what do you not understand?

Anti-Semitic incidents have increased in the United States in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7. The attack killed around 1,200 people and took another 250 hostages, prompting Israel to shell Gaza in retaliation.

is more than 34,000 Palestinians Gaza does not differentiate between civilians and fighters, according to the enclave’s health ministry.