“Stars of David, they took your life, they could not take your pride”, sang U2 lead singer Bono. The Irish band were performing at the Las Vegas Sphere, and Bono dedicated the song “Pride” to “those beautiful kids at that music festival,” speaking and singing about the hundreds of dead, missing and captured participants in the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im close to the border with Gaza. At least 260 of the 3,000 festival participants were murdered by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.
As the news of the terror group’s brutal attacks on Israel started to make headlines, the international chorus of condemnation grew louder. Many celebrities and organizations also added their voices in condemnation of Hamas and solidarity with Israel.
Star Wars icon Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) posted on X/Twitter side-by-side photos of the American and Israeli flags and wrote in the caption, “America stands with Israel.” Pop icon Madonna posted on Instagram: “My heart goes out to Israel.”
The NBA posted to their social media: “The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism.” “We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region,” said NBA. Actors Jamie Curtis and Nina Dobrev, Kardashian family matriarch Kris Jenner, comedian Amy Schumer and others have all displayed messages of solidarity with Israel. Kylie Jenner did as well, but was subjected to so much online abuse that she removed her post.
Scrolling through Instagram, it is filled with images of Israeli flags and solidarity.
However, not everyone has joined the chorus of support. Porn star Mia Khalifa tweeted on Oct. 7: “Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal” and “I can’t believe the Zionist apartheid regime is being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci – the biopics of these moments better reflect that.”
She also shared an image of the terrorists riding in the back of a pickup truck, calling it a “Renaissance painting.”
In response, Playboy promptly cut ties with Khalifa and issued a statement:
“Over the past few days, Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas’ attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women and children.”
“At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand that her words and actions have consequences,” said Playboy in the statement.
In response to the backlash, she tweeted on Oct. 8: “I’d say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I’m more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad.”
Former New Zealand rugby star Sonny Bill Williams showed solidarity by posting, “Praying for Gaza!” along with a Palestinian flag, and professional boxer and model Younes Bendjima challenged the equal attribution of blame, saying: “I’d love to but I can’t… there’s only one side.”
Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate
Edited by Priscilla Jepchumba and Newsdesk Manager
