Jordan Peele faces backlash

Jordan Peele is the latest celebrity to face backlash for their public take on the Israel and Hamas armed conflict.

The Get Out director was one of dozens of Hollywood celebrities to sign an open letter to President Joe Biden calling for the release of hostages taken by the military arm of the Palestinian political group, Hamas.

On Saturday, October 7, Hamas launched a ground, air and sea attack from Gaza into southern Israel killing more than 1,000 people and capturing between 200 and 250 hostages. More than 1,400 people in Israel have since died in the military conflict which has seen each side launch strikes against the other.

Around 6,546 Palestinians have been killed and 17,439 wounded by Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 injured, according to The Associated Press.

Four hostages have been released from Hamas’ captivity, but the rest remain in Gaza and Israel has vowed to continue bombing the Palestinian territory until all are released. Hamas has claimed 22 detainees have been killed in the air strikes.

Peele put his name to the letter which praised Biden for his “unshakable moral conviction, leadership, and support for the Jewish people,” and urged the U.S. government “to not rest until all hostages are released.”

Newsweek has contacted Peele’s representatives by email for comment.

But like other celebrities on the list, Peele is facing criticism for his decision.

“Just clocked that Jordan Peele also signed that letter. Why am I never allowed to have nice things? And how do you make a film like Get Out and then be completely oblivious to how systematic oppression works??” wrote one person on X, formerly Twitter.

Peele won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay for Get Out, a satirical horror film about a post-racial America, which depicts the ongoing benevolent and systemic oppression of Black people.

Israel is often criticized as a colonial and apartheid state after Zionists forcibly displaced Palestinians in 1948 during what is referred to as the Nakba, in order to create the country.

Other critics of the open letter called out one line that incorrectly stated infants had been beheaded by Hamas since October 7.

“I finally read the stupid letter, for one thing cannot believe it is repeating these lies after they were debunked to death and Biden himself walked it back—a revolting propaganda piece. How are these people all this deranged. Jordan Peele?? Shame on your entire existence,” wrote another person.

And another added: “Jordan Peele signing onto a Zionist propaganda letter while his fellow Black filmmakers Boots Riley, Ryan Coogler, Shaka King and Quinta Brunson fight for Palestine. Bro are you in the sunken place?? Even your white wife is on the right side of history!!”

But a number of other people praised Peele’s support for Israel or pointed out he seems to have faced more criticism than other celebrities on the list.

“How dare Jordan Peele **checks notes** call for the release of hostages,” tweeted one person.

A second wrote: “Y’all worried about Jordan Peele signing the letter, hello. what about Tyler Perry and Diddy??? Y’all are way too calm about that.”

Other celebrities to sign the letter included, Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Rock, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Mila Kunis, Katy Perry, and Will Ferrell.