Susan Sarandon Alleges Hollywood Blacklisting Over Pro-Palestinian Comments
Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon has publicly detailed what she describes as a professional blacklisting from Hollywood following her vocal support for Palestine and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. The 79-year-old star made these claims during a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, held on Friday ahead of the 40th Goya Awards ceremony.
Loss of Representation and Major Roles
Sarandon stated unequivocally that she was dropped by her talent agency specifically due to her activism. "I was fired by my agency specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza—for asking for a ceasefire—and it became impossible for me to even be on television," she declared, according to video footage from the event.
The actress elaborated that this alleged blacklisting extended far beyond mere representation. "I don’t know lately if it’s changed, [but] I couldn’t do any major film, anything connected with Hollywood," Sarandon continued. She suggested the pressure was so pervasive that even foreign filmmakers were being discouraged from collaborating with her.
"This Italian director that just hired me, he was told not to hire me," she revealed. "So that’s still recently. He didn’t listen, but they had that conversation."
Constrained to Independent and European Cinema
As a direct consequence, Sarandon explained her career has been largely confined to small-scale, independent projects. "So right now, I kind of specialize in tiny films with directors who have never directed and are independent films, and films that are in Europe or in Italy," she said. "So that’s the main reason I haven’t been working as much."
This situation echoes comments she made in a November 2024 interview with The Times of London, where she reflected on the controversy's professional fallout. "I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled. I've been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work," she told the publication at the time.
The Controversial Comments and Aftermath
The controversy stems from remarks Sarandon made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City in late 2023. She stated that Jewish people "are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim" amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. These comments led to her being dropped by United Talent Agency, which is led by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer.
Sarandon subsequently apologized, calling her phrasing a "terrible mistake" in a July 2024 Elle Spain cover story and on her Instagram. She clarified she had intended to "highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza" and regretted diminishing the history of antisemitism.
"This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true," she wrote. Despite the apology, she maintained her advocacy for Palestinian rights and a ceasefire.
Gratitude for International Support
During her Barcelona address, Sarandon expressed profound appreciation for the support she has received in Spain, contrasting it with her experience in the United States. She specifically praised Spanish actor Javier Bardem for his vocal stance.
"In a place where you feel repression and censorship, to see Spain and to see the president and what he says, and the support that he’s giving about Gaza, and to have actors like Javier Bardem come forward with such a strong voice is so important to us in the United States," she said.
"When you turn on the TV and you see how strong Spain is and how clear that you are morally about these issues, it makes you feel less alone, and it makes you feel that there is hope because of you all. You just don’t hear that on television in the United States," Sarandon added, highlighting a perceived difference in media discourse.
A History of Activism
Sarandon framed her current situation within a lifelong commitment to activism. She recalled realizing her platform's power in the 1970s during the push for the Equal Rights Amendment, encouraged by fellow actress Marlo Thomas.
Her advocacy portfolio is extensive, including protests for AIDS visibility, against the Iraq War, for gun control reform, and against immigration policies that separated families. She has been arrested multiple times for civil disobedience, including in 2018 and 2023.
"Injustice has always hurt and angered me," Sarandon told Elle Spain, referencing her upbringing during the Vietnam War era. "I didn't have to force myself to educate myself in this sense, it was the only plausible option."
Despite the alleged professional repercussions, Sarandon continues to advocate. She recently participated in a Cinema for Gaza auction and wore a pro-Palestinian button at the New York premiere of her film The Fabulous Four. She insists on the urgency of the situation, stating, "It is up to each of us to stop the genocide that is happening in Gaza."
