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”…
I don’t think he is getting that Oscar now.
John Malkovich has always been based.
I haven’t read the article. There is absolutely no justification for going to Israel unless it’s to impede or protest genocide.
Read the fucking article you dumb ass or enjoy the god damned egg all over your face
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? 🙄
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.
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 is unmoved by genocide draws a line for himself only.
