FEATURE:
Towing the Line?
IN THIS PHOTO: Actor Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 in 2023 by Spyglass Media Group for described the situation in Gaza as "genocide and ethnic cleansing"/PHOTO CREDIT: Jonny Marlow for Vogue
there is so much conflict and destruction around the world. In terms of the U.S. alone, under President Donald Trump, there is this sense of him trying to destroy the country and divide people. His anti-immigration stance, anti-trans bills, illegalisation of abortion and his waging war in Iran and everything else he is doing, there is this time when people need to speak out. That is happening, though there is always a risk. Look beyond the U.S., and we have genocide in Gaza and there is this thing where children are being murdered and people speak out and are punished. It is considered a crime in the U.K. for supporting pro-Palestine groups. There have been arrests of those who are protesting against Israel’s genocide. We have seen photos of elderly people and those with disabilities being dragged away by police! Seen as terrorists and a threat, we are in an absurd time when the government clearly is trying to neutralise anyone who protests against Israel. They may claim that it is because they feel pro-Palestine protestors are terrorists. It is insane to think that. Instead, they are very much siding with Israel and they are afraid of upsetting them. There is this bias that spread through the media too. Rather than call out the media for being so pro-Israel, it is clear that they are siding with the country. Anyone calling out genocide and calling for peace is seen as a danger. It is the same in the U.S. Trump as this dictator who does not want to hear from anyone who is against anything he stands for. There have been protests in music. However, most of the major artists are fearful of speaking out.
In terms of those who have called out genocide and rallied against Israel, there have been few cases. Kneecap, CMAT, Nadine Shah and Billie Eilish among the artists who have shown their support for Palestine. However, there has been this absence of protest of condemnation from many major artists. Perhaps it is the case that they do not want to get political. However, this is about humanity and morals and not politics at all. I think one of the big reasons for staying silent on the issue is being dropped by their label. The same with really criticising Trump and going on the attack. Even calling out the very obvious can provide huge ramifications for artists. Look to Hollywood and the fact that high-profile actors have faced huge loss and sacrifice for daring to call out evil in the world. Melissa Barrera is a phenomenal actor who I first saw in Scream V (or, annoyingly, Scream). Admittedly late to her work, I have followed her since. She featured in Scream VI but was fired from the franchise Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 in November 2023 by production company Spyglass Media Group over social media posts regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict that they deemed anti-Semitic. Barrera’s posts described the situation in Gaza as "genocide and ethnic cleansing". Following this, director Christopher Landon and co-star Jenna Ortega departed the project. Barrera was factually correct. However, there is this bias and leaning towards Israel and not wanting to piss them off. This pathetic thing of someone being labelled as antisemitic. Antisemitic is defined as “prejudice, hatred, or discrimination directed against Jewish people”. Barrera and countless others literally say nothing about Jewish people and Judaism. People thinking calling out Israel is attacking Jewish people. There is this stranglehold on free speech and anyone who wants peace in the world. Actors such as Mark Ruffalo continue to speak out. One reason for returning to this subject is a story that Kate Beckinsale was dropped by her agent for discussing genocide and doing the same as Mark Ruffalo has. Even though they are under the same agent, Ruffalo was not dropped and she was. Hard enough being a woman in Hollywood anyway – in terms of lack of exposure, not being as visible and offered important roles and helming films, equal pay and facing misogyny and sexual abuse -, if they get involved with something like speaking out against genocide, then there is this risk that men might not face.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Beckinsale/PHOTO CREDIT: Randy Holmes
Kate Beckinsale, like Melissa Barrera, is someone I hugely admire. Both tremendous actors, I have loved Beckinsale’s work for decades and she is an actor and human I have a lot of love for. Someone who deserves incredible roles and a lot more than she has been offered in her career. It is nothing to do with the severity of the action or what they are saying. Literally, Beckinsale has not been as vocal as Mark Ruffalo yet has faced punishment – and he has not. NME report the story:
“Kate Beckinsale has claimed that she lost her agent over social media support for Gaza, and was ignored by Mark Ruffalo when she reached out to him about it.
Beckinsale took to Instagram on Friday (April 3) and alleged that she was dropped by her talent agent after simply liking a social media post about a ceasefire in Gaza. The comments, which have now been deleted but have since been widely circulated on social media, were left under a post by Ruffalo promoting his new film ‘Palestine 36’.
“Gosh, it must be so nice not to be fired by your Agent for liking a post about a ceasefire and not supporting the murdering of children,” Beckinsale wrote (via Entertainment Weekly).
“I guess having a penis in Hollywood really counts for a lot because you’ve not been fired by the same Agent that I had, and she sent me a gift the week before so we didn’t have any beef,” she alleged, going on to reference the Screen Actors Guild strike that lasted from July to November 2023.
“But I liked a post about a ceasefire and I’ve got fired on the same day as Susan Sarandon was fired, two days after the end of the strike after nine months of none of us being able to work at all.”
The Underworld actor said the timing made everything worse, given that at the time, her mother, Judy Loe, had been given six weeks to live, and her stepfather had just suffered a catastrophic stroke.
“I was fired in two sentences after 12 years of friendship with my Agent,” she wrote, adding that her agent “definitely knew what I was dealing with, alone”.
She also revealed she had previously tried to address the situation privately with Ruffalo. “DMd you about this months ago but you ignored me,” she told him directly. However, she went on to clarify that she wasn’t blaming Ruffalo personally, and supports his activism.
“I applaud your voice and your activism but the price you pay for having a vagina while even remotely liking a post that was as un political as it could possibly be,” she said, but pointed to his silence on the issue as an example of “male privilege, even in the good guys”.
The stakes might be higher in Hollywood. In terms of the revenue actors can bring in and how ‘costly’ it might be to be associated with actors who are deemed to be controversial. It does seem like there is sexism and misogyny when it comes to taking actions against those who speak out against genocide. Terrible that Hollywood wants to silence those who call out dictatorships and evil regimes. Women seem to bare the brunt more than men. Another obstacle that women have to face. I forgot mention Angelina Jolie. She is planning to leave Los Angeles and the U.S. in July, once her twins Knox and Vivienne turn eighteen, ending her need to remain for custody arrangements. She has expressed a desire to move to Europe or Cambodia for more privacy and because she no longer ‘recognises’ the U.S. She has posted about the destruction and loss of life in Gaza. Someone leaving her country of birth because of the evil of the government there. Speaking out about how the state of American free speech under his administration is at risk. Though major Pop artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift have either been involved with fundraisers to raise money for humanitarian aid going to Gaza and they have shown their concern for what is happening, there is this absence of protestation and disgust from many artists. I do also feel like there is this gender issue too. Kneecap are a male trio from Ireland who were actually taken to court, so that is an example of men in the industry being punished. They were not charged or face any further action. However, the music industry is still so skewed towards men. They are given a slide if they do something bad or they do not face the same backlash and loss as women. However, I do feel like, apart from CMAT, Nadine Shah, Billie Eilish and a few others, many artists are keeping quiet. Also, very few artists are actually being vociferous and getting angry. So many statements are quite collected and seem to tow a line. Like there is this boundary and border they cannot cross when it comes to their language. Think about what Kate Beckinsale and Melissa Barrera said, and there was nothing inflammatory or antisemitic. Instead, it was them just calling it how it is. The same in music. Bob Vylan and Kneecap condemned for their rhetoric and words, yet both groups continue to record and are being booked for gigs (though they both faced losing bookings in the aftermath of their comments). Think about the risk for high-profile women if they become ‘too loud’ or ‘aggrieve’.
The same with male artists. Harry Styles might feel he is not qualified or best placed to speak against genocide, yet it is not him getting political or choosing a side. It is a humanitarian issue and every artist should so something. I have written about this before, and I mused how artists might lose sponsorship deals, being dropped by their label and dividing fans. However, there is nothing controversial about them stepping in and getting upset and angry about Israel or the U.S. and what they are doing. I am looking to Hollywood and the ramifications for successful actors. How must they risk losing. Major-label artists might look at all they have and what they can lose and think twice about posting anything that could get them dropped or cancelled. Kate Beckinsale’s case affected me and highlights how there are greater risks for women if they speak out. Even though Mark Ruffalo is a great guy and had a good heart, the fact he is a man in Hollywood meant he did not get dropped by his agency. Women in music must look at this and know the dangers that threaten them. Over 1,000 artists, including Lorde, IDLES, and Björk, have signed on to remove their music from Israeli streaming platforms, as stated on nomusicforgenocide.net. There have been some cases of women in music being vocal and not facing cancellation. Dua Lipa strongly condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza. She called out their genocide and called for a humanitarian ceasefire and an end to the "slaughter" of civilians. It is a risky time for anyone in the music industry. Brian Eno and Massive Attack have faced censorship. Nick Cave and Radiohead attacked for their silence. Radiohead sort of backtracking and being inconsistent. Nick Cave saying he will not boycott Israel and he does not want to punish the Israel people. He has been accused of supporting Israel and being neutral when it comes to genocide committed. It does seem in Hollywood, especially for women, is worse. There have been high-profile musicians who have been vocal, though there have been notable silences. I guess it is the same for anyone who attacks Donald Trump or calls out what he is doing. This real risk of censorship and losing fans and labels. Every artist in the industry should be able to voice their opinions and not face punishment. However, I wonder if artists will truly…
HAVE that freedom?