Selma Blair is reflecting on the alleged fallout she endured after commenting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2024.
“The brands I worked with were gone within a day. A few partnerships I’d spent years building were shelved,” Blair, 54 claimed during the Anti-Defamation League’s State of the Arts reception on Thursday, October 1, per The Hollywood Reporter. “My agency was gone. My lawyer was gone. My publicist was gone. My book agent was gone. My book publicist was gone. My social media manager was gone.”
She continued, “While some friends in the business quietly stood by me, most of them were gone. And of course, my manager, my supposed friend of 30 years, and a Jew, was gone too. I still don’t know what any of them were thinking. No one returned my calls.”
In February 2024, Blair commented on a video defending the Jewish community in the wake of the deadly October 7, 2023, attacks and subsequent Israeli and U.S. military campaign in Gaza that, to date, has left more than 74,000 civilian Palestinians dead.
“Thank you so much. Deport all these terrorist-supporting goons,” the actress wrote in a since-deleted comment, per THR. “Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroyed minds. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate.”
Her comment was subsequently criticized as beinganti-Islamic before the Cruel Intentions actress deleted the message and issued a public apology.
“This is a time of great pain and anguish for many around the world, but it is also a time to learn and better understand how words matter,” Blair wrote in a statement later that month, which she also deleted, according to THR. “In my comment, I mistakenly and inadvertently conflated Muslims with Radical Islamists and fundamentalists, a terrible err in my words, and resulted in hurting countless people I never meant to, and I deeply regret this. As soon as my error was brought to my attention, I deleted the comment.”
She continued, “Hate and misinformation are amplified so easily these days. This time by my own hands. In this instance, I erred in my writing and I fully recognize how I contributed to the Muslim community being understandably very upset.”
Blair further stressed that she respects and loves “all peace-loving communities” across the globe.
“It was my Muslim friends who helped educate and show me the way,” she added at the time. “I am committed to paying forward their love and understanding. We cannot allow ignorance and rage to become our downfall.”
