Australian actress Nathalie Kelley has issued a forceful response after facing significant online criticism for expressing solidarity with the victims of a recent terror attack in Bondi. The Dynasty star found herself at the centre of a social media storm after sharing a tribute related to the attack, which targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, given her previous vocal support for Palestine and condemnation of Israel.
A Message of Solidarity Sparks Controversy
The incident unfolded after Kelley, who is currently in a relationship with Israeli hairdresser Tomer Kelner, posted a message expressing her heartbreak over the Bondi attack. The assault on Sunday left 15 innocent people dead during a festive gathering. In her post, she sought to separate criticism of the Israeli state from the condemnation of antisemitic violence, writing: 'Whether or not you agree with the actions of the state of Israel (I do not) what happened in Bondi on Sunday was a vile, sickening act.'
She further stated that anyone genuinely desiring peace and justice could not justify the global rise in antisemitism. However, this nuanced position was met with a wave of criticism from some of her followers, who seemingly conflated her grief for the victims with support for Israeli government policy.
Kelney's Detailed Video Defence
On Wednesday, Kelley addressed the backlash directly in a lengthy video posted to her Instagram. She emphasised that the situation was 'not about me or my beliefs' and argued that people had misunderstood her intentions. The actress provided a detailed account of her long-held political views, tracing her support for the Palestinian cause back to her childhood.
'I have been supporting Palestinian people and the Palestine movement since before I was a teenager,' Kelley explained. 'When I was eight or nine years old, I watched a documentary on IDF soldiers killing children in the West Bank and to me it was like looking at South Africa all over again.' She described her younger self as a 'brown girl in a white country' who always 'stuck up for the underdog.'
Love and a Complex Perspective
Kelley revealed that her perspective had evolved in complexity after falling in love with an Israeli man two decades later. 'Fast forward two decades later, I fall in love with an Israeli man but my stance doesn’t change,' she stated firmly. 'There is a clear oppressor, narrative, victim and I can see where the power lies and my support still lies with Palestinian people.'
However, she credited her boyfriend and his family with expanding her capacity for understanding. She reiterated her consistent opposition to the violent actions of the IDF, both before and during the current conflict. Her Bondi post, she clarified, was intended as a universal message of safety. 'My last post was a message of solidarity to Jewish people all around the world, whether they support the war or not. I want all people to be safe, even the people who don’t agree with me,' she said.
Kelley also shared a chilling personal detail, revealing she was supposed to have been at the Bondi event. 'The shock of knowing that, due to some twist of fate, we did not get that flight and went to another city instead,' she recounted, underscoring the attack's personal resonance. She concluded with a plea for nuanced thought: 'Israel can be an oppressor and Israelis can also be victims. Not one person is your enemy.'
