John Cusack under fire for statements supporting Palestine

John Cusack, the star of films such as High Fidelity and Say Anything, has sparked controversy for his tweets about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Cusack, who is known for his progressive views, has been vocal in his criticism of Israel’s actions and his support for Palestinian rights.

Cusack faced backlash for retweeting an image of a giant hand with a Star of David symbol crushing a group of people, along with a quote attributed to Voltaire: “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” Cusack added his own comment: “Follow the money.”

The quote, however, was not from Voltaire, but from a white nationalist named Kevin Alfred Strom. Many accused Cusack of spreading antisemitic propaganda and promoting conspiracy theories.

Cusack initially defended his tweet, claiming that he was misled by a bot and that he was endorsing a pro-Palestinian message. He later deleted the tweet and apologized, saying that he retweeted “an image that’s harmful to both Jewish and Palestinian friends, and for that I’m sorry” .

In October 2023, Cusack attended a Palestinian march in Chicago, where he expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for an end to the violence. He also shared his experience of visiting Palestine in 2022, describing it as an “open air prison”. He said that he did not hear any anti-Israel or anti-Jewish slogans at the march, but rather a demand for freedom and justice for Palestine.

Cusack’s tweets have drawn mixed reactions from his fans and followers. Some praised him for his courage and compassion, while others criticized him for his ignorance and bias.

Cusack has not backed down from his stance, saying that he believes in human rights for all people, regardless of their religion or nationality. He has also urged his followers to educate themselves on the history and context of the conflict, and to support peaceful solutions.