I haven’t read the article. There is absolutely no justification for going to Israel unless it’s to impede or protest genocide.
He gave what I thought was a thoughtful explanation of why he was planning to go:
“Throughout my long career, I’ve been lucky to perform across a quite wide swath of the world – in countries with governments whose values or culture I do not share and in front of audiences of many differing faiths and ideologies,” he wrote. “Travelling to places whose view of the world may not align with mine has given me a chance to observe and to listen and learn and to share my idea of what makes good storytelling and what makes beautiful music and how they can complement each other and illuminate the human condition.
“My appearance in any country, even my own, does not constitute approval of said country’s policies, nor actions, nor its elected or unelected leaders. My appearances would also not condone nor mean that I am in supposed ‘solidarity’ with any particular political cause, nor with the killing of innocents, nor with any acts of terrorism, nor any other kind of barbarity.”
Yeah but who needs a thoughtful explanation when you already have a cherished narrative? /s
I appreciate the excerpt.
I’m not surprised at all by what I read there, because it’s the same mealy-mouthed output anyone else would use in that position.
It’s disappointing to hear a false equivalence between the country he lives in and has little choice in, versus one he chooses to visit wilfully.
Also, language like “ in countries with governments whose values or culture I do not share” is also weak as urine to allude to a place carrying out genocide.
Edit: he mentioned killing of innocents, but did not really specify who he is talking about.
If he’s talking about an event that he pulled out of specifically because they misrepresented his presence as having ‘solidarity’ with Israel, who do you think the statement is about? 🙄
People can’t do subtext anymore, only explicit full-chested statements.
He gave what I thought was a thoughtful explanation of why he was planning to go
that’s not thoughtful at all, it’s just described what he does…he goes places, observes, makes good money and returns.
there’s no justification for visiting Israel, Russia etc or any such place and lending his considerable cachet to thier validation. It’s why they asked him their in the first place ffs.
That he doesn’t Vote is the worst spit in the face there is. You have entire nations with citizens giving their lives fighting to be able to vote in free elections and he just shit in their pockets saying it doesn’t matter.
fuck that guy
would you consider yourself an electoralist?
Visiting a place usually involves paying taxes to its government though. So however you may feel about their actions, you are financially supporting them. That is an ethical consideration that should be weighed, I think.
It’s not that I disagree with you - I don’t - but your comment is my number one complaint about Lemmy. It’s a place to rant one’s fixed positions without discussion. To proudly share that you didn’t read the article and then barf your absolutist position… it’s not brave and principled. It’s dumb. Malkovich made some interesting and more nuanced statements on this subject which you didn’t read but I’m thinking at this point you wouldn’t be able to understand them anyway.
You should read it before making blanket statements, regardless of my agreement with your point.
I have read it now, and I regret reading it. It was the most predictable thing ever, once again.
Summary: Self-absorbed artist and fan of Israel who is unmoved by genocide draws a line for himself only.
Read the fucking article you dumb ass or enjoy the god damned egg all over your face
I might go to defecate there and spread the pollution an airliner spews, but I wouldn’t spend a single cent there. Israel is lucky we dont consider them an enemy yet. And why we don’t is a mystery and a travesty.
Its not really a mystery. Zionist fifth columnists control your government.
yep, they control the American media/propoganda machines as well. Journalism companies, facebook, Reddit and X too, and evidently ticktock is next. I wonder what they will do about lemmy instances. Its coming. I dont know how we get out of this.
I don’t agree with his idea that he can be “non-political”, but it is a well written and understandable statement from him in the article.
It’s all well and good to want to be non-political, but in the current climate, all “non-political” means is that you’re rich enough to ignore other people’s problems because you are secure that they will never become yours. And THAT is where I have an issue.
I will not hate others who refuse to hate others. I will think less of them. But it is the right and privilege of us all to bury our heads in the sand if we wish. This sentiment comes from the fact that there is cruelty and injustice every second of every day. None of us calls it out in totality because if we did, we wouldn’t have voices for laughing or quiet conversations… They would be too busy screaming.
Well yes, for sure. Basically what I’m meaning is that while I respect his right to have that opinion. I in now way respect the opinion itself.
People have a right to be stupid. But that doesn’t extend to having the right to be protected from the consequences of being stupid.
Why would he plan a gig in Israel in the first place, anyway?
Apparently he considers that play for citizens does not implies complacency with the government, which makes an interesting point, especially if many countries have governments that you condem with some citizens that indeed complain about their governments in there and that may be is your target audience and you want to support… regarding your tolerance threshold vs profesionalism concept it would may be hard to find work at all otherwise. But for sure at a certain point of government abuses, unless you declare openly your support or not, it looks like you tacitly approve it, and the apparent message rises, and then is practically like directly asking the actor about his personal opinion and not wanting to answer, which looks like an answer itself. He may have just met the threshold with the situation, may even be contractually lured into it in the first place and found a “way out”…
What a horrible antisemite! /s
I don’t think he is getting that Oscar now.
John Malkovich has always been based.
