Reese Witherspoon, Florence Pugh and More Stand Against Anti-Semitism After Kanye West Controversy

Credit: Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Shutterstock

Reese Witherspoon, Florence Pugh and More Stand Against Anti-Semitism After Kanye West Controversy

Taking a stand. Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian and more celebrities spoke out against anti-Semitism amid the growing backlash to Kanye West's comments. “Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” the Skims mogul, 42, tweeted on Monday, October 24. “I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.” The reality star's ex-husband, 45, initially made headlines for his anti-Semitic comments on October 8 after his Instagram account was restricted for violating the platform's rules and guidelines. The "Famous" rapper then took to Twitter, where he wrote about “going death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE." The post was eventually removed, but West later doubled down on his comments in multiple interviews. [jwplayer Iqq2ObdK-zhNYySv2] During a Wednesday, October 19, interview with Piers Morgan, the Yeezy designer apologized to "the people that I hurt" with his social media posts, but he said he didn't regret making the comments. "I fought fire with fire," the told the U.K. native, 57. "I’m not here to get hosed down. It’s a different type of freedom fighter.” Days later, viral photos showed a small group of demonstrators in Los Angeles standing on a freeway overpass with a sign reading, "Kanye is right about the Jews." In one picture, their arms were raised in what appeared to be the Nazi salute. City officials quickly condemned the display, which was only the latest in a string of anti-Semitic incidents reported across the country. "L.A. is a city of belonging, not hate," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted on Sunday, October 23. "We condemn this weekend’s anti-Semitic incidents. Jewish Angelenos should always feel safe. There is no place for discrimination or prejudice in Los Angeles. And we will never back down from the fight to expose and eliminate it." West, meanwhile, was dropped from his agency, CAA, and Vogue announced that it would no longer work with him. Balenciaga also confirmed on Friday, October 21, that the brand cut ties with the Chicago native. “Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” a rep for Kering, the brand's parent company, told Women’s Wear Daily. Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 34 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States from 2020 to 2021. The number of anti-Semitic events reported in 2021 — 2,717 — is the highest number on record since the organization began tracking data in 1979. Keep scrolling to see which celebrities have spoken out about anti-semitism.

Credit: Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Shutterstock

Reese Witherspoon, Florence Pugh and More Stand Against Anti-Semitism After Kanye West Controversy

Taking a stand. Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian and more celebrities spoke out against anti-Semitism amid the growing backlash to Kanye West's comments. “Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” the Skims mogul, 42, tweeted on Monday, October 24. “I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.” The reality star's ex-husband, 45, initially made headlines for his anti-Semitic comments on October 8 after his Instagram account was restricted for violating the platform's rules and guidelines. The "Famous" rapper then took to Twitter, where he wrote about “going death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE." The post was eventually removed, but West later doubled down on his comments in multiple interviews. [jwplayer Iqq2ObdK-zhNYySv2] During a Wednesday, October 19, interview with Piers Morgan, the Yeezy designer apologized to "the people that I hurt" with his social media posts, but he said he didn't regret making the comments. "I fought fire with fire," the told the U.K. native, 57. "I’m not here to get hosed down. It’s a different type of freedom fighter.” Days later, viral photos showed a small group of demonstrators in Los Angeles standing on a freeway overpass with a sign reading, "Kanye is right about the Jews." In one picture, their arms were raised in what appeared to be the Nazi salute. City officials quickly condemned the display, which was only the latest in a string of anti-Semitic incidents reported across the country. "L.A. is a city of belonging, not hate," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted on Sunday, October 23. "We condemn this weekend’s anti-Semitic incidents. Jewish Angelenos should always feel safe. There is no place for discrimination or prejudice in Los Angeles. And we will never back down from the fight to expose and eliminate it." West, meanwhile, was dropped from his agency, CAA, and Vogue announced that it would no longer work with him. Balenciaga also confirmed on Friday, October 21, that the brand cut ties with the Chicago native. “Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” a rep for Kering, the brand's parent company, told Women’s Wear Daily. Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 34 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States from 2020 to 2021. The number of anti-Semitic events reported in 2021 — 2,717 — is the highest number on record since the organization began tracking data in 1979. Keep scrolling to see which celebrities have spoken out about anti-semitism.

Credit: Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Shutterstock

Ben Platt

“This kind of thing seems to be appropriate for a lot of people to pass over and not comment. As a Jew, I really notice all of the silence,” the Politician alum told The Hollywood Reporter in December 2022. “If anyone happens to read this and wants to say something, either through a simple or even passive showing of support, it means a lot to Jewish people right now who are feeling a little left in the lurch.”

He added: “I hope that it becomes something we can’t really ignore the way that we so beautifully don’t ignore so many other biases and forms of oppression. I’m hoping that those kinds of conversations can apply themselves to the Jewish people as well.”

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Josh Gad

The Frozen star released a statement on October 24 condemning West's "Neo Nazi propaganda" via Twitter: "For 30 years, my grandparents Joseph and Evelyn Greeblatt repeated one phrase to me again and again: 'never forget.' You see, when they were children, they were rounded up, tattooed with numbers like cattle and separated from their families. They were then put into camps as their parents and siblings were slaughtered. Why? Because they were an easy target; scapegoats for Fascist monsters who turned their fellow countrymen into complicit murderers."

He continued: "I vowed to never forget, but never imagined I would have to once again fear the dangers of this blind and ignorant hatred towards my people. Until today. This last week has truly shocked so many like myself into being reminded how quickly and easily hate can spread and find it's way into my own city, spoken by those who would dare to utter words once spoken by Hitler. I'm going to make this super clear: Kanye West is a raging f--king anti-Semite. His mental illness is not an excuse for his Neo-Nazi propaganda. I have friends who are bipolar. They don't suffer from vile bigotry and hate. I have stood with many again and again over the course of my life. My people are now under attack in a very disturbing and real way. Silence is no longer an option. Not when Nazi salutes are happening on the 405. Speak out now and speak out loudly. Lest we forget."

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Amy Schumer

"If you don’t know what to post. Let’s start with this," the comedian wrote via Instagram, sharing a screenshot of a statement posted by Jessica Seinfeld. "In the comments. Do you know what the Jewish community is afraid this will lead to? 1 in 2 people don’t know the holocaust happened. Stand up." The statement read simply: "I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people."

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Reese Witherspoon

"Anti-semitism in any form is deplorable. In person. Online. Doesn't matter where. It's hate and it's unacceptable," the Oscar winner tweeted. "Completely understand why my Jewish friends/ colleagues are frightened for their families. This is a very scary time."

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Florence Pugh

"Any form of hate speech only encourages, it grows and spreads like a disease," the Little Women actress wrote via Instagram alongside photos from the L.A. demonstration. "Any whisper of anti-semitism is dangerous and needs to be addressed and taken down."

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Kim Kardashian

“Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” the Hulu personality tweeted. “I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”

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Kylie Jenner

The Life of Kylie alum reposted Schumer's message via her Instagram Story.

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Khloé Kardashian

The Good American cofounder shared Seinfeld's post via her Instagram Story.

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Kendall Jenner

Like her younger sister, the supermodel reposted the quote Schumer shared via Instagram.

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Katie Thurston

"Someone with a large platform has the power to see their words turned into consequences. Antisemitism is not a joke," the former Bachelorette wrote via Instagram. "The silence from @adidas is loud. Please visit my link in bio to learn more. #neveragain."

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Katie Couric

"This is horrifying," the veteran journalist wrote via Instagram alongside a photo from the L.A. demonstration. "This happened on the 405 in Los Angeles. The Goyim Defense League is an anti-semitic hate group and is responsible for this."

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Gwyneth Paltrow

The Goop founder reposted Seinfeld's message, adding the comment: "And my Jewish family."