A top executive at United Talent Agency (UTA), one of Hollywood’s largest talent agencies, has criticized a letter written by The UC Ethnic Studies Faculty Council that sought to challenge statements of condemnation following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7. Jay Sures, the vice chairman of UTA and a member of the University of California (UC) system’s Board of Regents, expressed his deep dismay at the letter in a response dated October 31.
In the letter, Sures condemned the council’s letter, stating that he found it “appalling and repugnant” and that it was filled with falsehoods about Israel. He believed that it aimed to legitimize and defend the “horrific savagery” of the Hamas massacre. The Ethnic Studies Faculty Council, representing 300 faculty members, had written a letter to the Board of Regents on October 16, accusing the UC administration of contributing to a hostile climate for Palestinian students and community members through its statements that excuse Israeli genocide and erase Palestinian lives.
The UC system’s office of the president had previously released a statement on October 9 condemning the attack. The faculty group requested that the UC leadership retract its charges of terrorism, support the Palestinian freedom struggle, and stand against Israel’s war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide of the Palestinian people. In his reply, Sures emphasized that he would do everything in his power to prevent the retraction and that the school’s statement on the attack was justified and necessary because terrorism has no place in the world. He criticized the faculty group’s letter for perpetuating hate and discrimination, stating that it did not foster healthy dialogue.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to growing polarization within the corporate and academic landscapes, including Hollywood. Actors, executives, and guild members have taken sides and expressed their views on the conflict through open letters and donations to humanitarian groups. Some incidents have sparked controversy and backlash, such as when a top agent from rival agency CAA reposted an Instagram Story accusing Israel of “genocide,” which led to her temporary stepping down from her leadership role and the departure of a high-profile client.
Related Post
The rise of antisemitism, as documented by the Anti-Defamation League, has been a major concern in Los Angeles, but there has also been a growing activist attention on the perceived lack of support for the Palestinian people during the war in Gaza. The industry’s conversations have centered on both issues.
The response from Jay Sures highlights the ongoing tensions and divisions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Hollywood. As public figures within the entertainment industry make their positions known, it remains to be seen how these controversies and debates will continue to shape the discourse and actions within the industry.
