Gal Gadot became emotional as she praised Skydance co-CEO Ynon Kreiz for speaking out against antisemitism at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Humanitarian Award Dinner on Wednesday.
Gadot presented Kreiz with the 2026 award alongside producer Jeffrey Katzenberg and Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison. She said she was alarmed by the spread of hostility toward Jewish people since 2023.
“I’m frightened by how quickly hatred of Jews is spreading and how openly it is expressed and accepted,” Gadot said. She added that since the October 7 Hamas attacks and the war that followed, she has wondered how much further it could go if people become accustomed to hearing hateful rhetoric and do nothing.
Gadot, who is Jewish, has repeatedly defended Israel. She said Kreiz’s willingness to stand firm gave her hope, describing his leadership as a “beacon of light” during a dark period.
After accepting the award, Kreiz, who holds Israeli, British and American citizenship, thanked Ellison and Skydance for taking what he called a bold stand for Israel and the Jewish people against “an ancient hatred.” He said business leaders have a moral responsibility.
The award came a little over a month after Paramount Skydance completed its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Before the deal closed, Ellison announced that Kreiz, formerly Mattel’s chairman and CEO, would join him as co-CEO.
The Israeli-American Council congratulated Kreiz and said Gadot was right to raise concerns about antisemitism. The group said Jewish actors, writers, employees and students should not have to fear that speaking about antisemitism or supporting Israel could cost them work, friendships or acceptance.
Opposing hatred of Jews, the council said, should not require professional courage. If it does, “something is deeply wrong.”
