There’s a reason the phrase, “Shut up and sing” caught on.
Celebrities have the same First Amendment rights we all enjoy (at least for now). They just have bigger platforms to flex them.
That’s a mixed blessing given the kinds of messages they share.
It couldn’t be simpler. A vote for Trump is a vote for Fascism. A vote for Biden is a vote to preserve 248 years of self rule.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) November 21, 2023
For every thoughtful comment there are others that beggar belief. Still, we pay attention to much of what the glitterati says, often forgetting it seconds later.
That’s not the case with Patricia Heaton.
How did I miss the repulsive @LucyHockingsBBC ? Another blatant anti-Israel presenter at the fallen @BBCNews #BBCHASFALLEN https://t.co/1jFAXtVEU4
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) November 25, 2023
The star of “The Middle” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” isn’t keen on hot takes or crudely assembled rants. She’s thoughtful and sweet via her X account, refusing to take the social media bait that lures so many into blistering fights.
The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that left more than 1,200 dead changed her social media brand.
Now, she does whatever she can to debunk false narratives about Israel and expose the anti-semitism erupting across the globe.
And, as it turns out, she’s more self aware than most stars.
Why else would she apologize to her followers for potentially “boring the pants” off them for her steady stream of pro-Israel posts?
She did that and so much more in this epic post summing up the horrors of the last two months.
I feel like I have to say that I know I might be boring the pants off all you lovely followers with my incessant tweeting and retweeting of the crisis in Israel but I am so alarmed by it all: alarmed at the horror #hamas perpetrated upon innocent people; alarmed at the biased…
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) November 25, 2023
“…alarmed at the horror #hamas perpetrated upon innocent people; alarmed at the biased anti-Israel tone of so many media outlets, especially @BBCNews and @SkyNews, the very people whose country fought the Nazis so valiantly; alarmed at the immediate and well-organized pro-Hamas protests that sprung up all over the West; alarmed at govt orgs like @UN who are clearly antisemitic; alarmed at universities’ and students’ embrace of terrorism and oppressive cultures; alarmed at citizens tearing down posters of innocent hostages; alarmed at so many seemingly nice, integrated people, especially in the medical field, revealing genocidal beliefs against Jews; alarmed at law enforcement officers not lifting a hand to stop public calls for violence and death to Jews; alarmed at the silence of supposedly feminist groups who refuse to condemn #Hamas raping women; alarmed at the silence from so many in Hollywood who are normally quick to jump on any social bandwagon. In 2015, “Je Suis Charlie” was on everyone’s lips and social media platforms after the murder of innocents in Paris, particularly at the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices. What has changed? Why is there now such a reluctance to condemn this barbaric and murderous mindset? What are people afraid of? How did so many get brainwashed? Isn’t this something we all need to be deeply concerned about? Or have I just been out of work too long and have too much time on my hands?
Actors are often mocked for their activism, with critics suggesting they need the writers who put the words in their mouths.
Badly.
Not here.
Heaton captures so much of what we’ve learned in recent weeks in just a few swift sentences, and it’s almost too horrifying to process. And, in a perfect world, her thoughts wouldn’t be politically charged in the least.
Sadly, that’s not the case given how the latest Israel-Hamas conflict has fallen along predictable partisan lines. Even dyed in the wool liberal Jews are rethinking their beliefs after seeing many progressives align with Hamas against Israel.
It’s worth singling out one portion of Heaton’s rant – the Hollywood connection.
Some stars rushed to sign a group letter condemning Hamas in no uncertain terms. Others began using their social media platforms in the Heaton mode, including Amy Schumer, Jon Lovitz, Debra Messing and Michael Rapaport.
Most stayed silent, including luminaries like Steven Spielberg.
“Saturday Night Live” and Team Late Night have all but ignored what Heaton described in her blistering post. They could have rallied behind the embattled Jewish people and, more importantly, mocked the ghouls ripping down posters of kidnapped Israelis and chasing Jews into hiding.
httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxULUwA–TE
Much of these atrocities are happening in New York City, where several key shows are based. Yet they’ve done nothing of the kind.
It’s just nonstop Trump jokes. Still.
Heaton mentioned her industry as just part of her poignant essay. Here’s betting she has a lot more to say on the matter but is holding her tongue.
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