Julianna Margulies Addresses Backlash Following Her Inflammatory Comments About Israel-Hamas War

Julianna Margulies is speaking out after facing backlash for criticizing the black and LGBTQ+ community for their perceived lack of support for Israel amid its ongoing war against Hamas.

“I am appalled by the fact that the statements I made in a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities that I truly love and respect,” Margulies told PEOPLE in a statement. “I want to be 100% clear: racism, homophobia, sexism or any prejudice against anyone’s personal beliefs or identity is abhorrent to me, period.”

“Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to fight hatred of all kinds, end anti-Semitism, stand up against terrorist groups like Hamas and create a united front against discrimination,” she continued. “It was not my intention to sow further division with my words, for which I sincerely apologize.”

Her apology was first reported by Deadline.

The three-time Emmy winner, 57, appeared on the Nov. 20 episode The Back Room with Andy Ostroy podcast when she made her remarks as the topic of anti-Semitism came up in light of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

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In the podcast, Margulies and Ostory — known for the HBO documentary about his late wife Waitress director Adrienne Shelly — got into the subject of anti-Semitism, and Margulies said former President Donald Trump “legitimized” its rise when he praised neo-Nazi protesters after the 2017 riots in Charlottesville, Virginia.

From there, Morning show actress spoke about what she sees as a lack of support for Israel after its citizens were attacked by Hamas on October 7, comparing it to the responses she and other Jews have offered to the black and LGBTQ+ community during previous injustices.

“I am the first person to march [for] Black Lives Matter. When this happened to George Floyd, I put a black screen on my Instagram. Like, I was running to support my black brothers and sisters,” Margulies continued. “When LGBTQ people are attacked, I run. I did an ad for same-sex marriage with my husband in 2012. Like, I’m the first person to jump when something’s wrong, as I think most Jews are, because we were persecuted from the beginning time — not just since World War II, but literally since the beginning of time when we first lived in Israel long before anyone else.”

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After Ostory said, “You’re 100 percent right. If we used the wrong pronouns on college campuses, there would be an uproar,” Margulies went on to criticize progressive young people she sees as supporting those who attack Jews.

“It is they the kids who spread this antisemitic hatred and have no idea if they’ve set foot in an Islamic country – these people who want us to call them ‘they/them’ or whatever they want us to call them, which, with all due respect, I really emphasized doing… like, be whoever you want to be – these are the people who will be the first people to be beheaded and played with [like] soccer ball on the field,” she said. “And that’s what they’re rooting for? Terrorists who don’t want women to have their rights? LGBTQ people are executed, bar none. And you root for this? It’s so crazy to me that it would be funny if it weren’t so sad.”

“It’s unfathomable,” Margulies said. “And where are the professors, calling all these students into the classroom and saying, ‘Wait a minute. Guys, do you understand what a terrorist organization is? Find out what you’re supporting.’

On Thursday, The Washington Post journalist Karen Attiah called out the actress’ comments, speaking on Xu (formerly known as Twitter): “I wish I could say that Julianne Margulies’ racist attack against black people is unusual. But like I said before, I’ve heard the same sentiment from supposedly liberal circles.” “Solidarity with black people is transactional. We should be grateful recipients of alms,” Attiah continued.

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She also apparently mentioned a New York Post the story of the LionLez group—Columbia University’s self-described “radical POC club for queer women and non-binary people”—dissuading “Zionists” from a movie night they were holding.

“You know, a black lesbian club on the Columbia campus was showing the movie and they put up signs that said ‘No Jews,'” Margulies claimed. “And as someone who plays a lesbian journalist Morning showit offends me more as a lesbian than as a Jew, to be honest with you.”

“I want to tell them, ‘You fucking idiots,'” she continued. “You don’t exist. You’re even lower than the Jews. A. You’re black, and B. You’re gay. And you turn your back on the people who support you?” Because Jews gather around everyone. It’s a lonely place.”

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Margulies spoke about what she sees as a lack of support for Jews from the black community.

She stated, “In the civil rights movement, it was the Jews who walked side by side with black people – to fight for their rights, because they know. And now the black community doesn’t accept us and say, ‘We stand with you the way you stood with us?’ Jews died for their cause! Where is the history lesson in that? Who is teaching these children?”

“The fact that the entire black community doesn’t stand with us says to me that either they just don’t know or they’ve been brainwashed into hating Jews,” she said.

Cindy Ord/Getty

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Margulies appears to have turned off comments on her Instagram page and deactivated her profile on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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Source: HIS Education