Motion Picture Academy Vows to ‘Thoughtfully’ Address Criticism of ‘Antisemitic Tropes’ in Exhibit on Jewish Founders | Exclusive

Outraged Jewish creatives say the exhibit that takes pains to point out Hollywood founders’ flaws with terms like “oppressive,” “tyrant” “predator,” “frugal” 

Sharon Waxman
Academy Hollywood museum exhibit
Hollywood studio founders (left to right) Adolph Zukor, Carl Laemmle and Louis B Mayer (Chris Smith/TheWrap)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has pledged to “move quickly and thoughtfully” to address criticism of a new Academy museum exhibit dedicated to the Jewish founders of Hollywood as perpetuating “antisemitic tropes” and focusing on the founders’ flaws rather than their achievements. 

In a statement to TheWrap on Monday, the Academy acknowledged the criticism from multiple Jewish members and promised to make adjustments: 

“Some members of the Jewish community have come forward to express some concerns, and [we] are looking at how to address those concerns best while continuing to share an authentic understanding of these complex individuals and the time they lived in,” the statement read.

Sharon Waxman

Sharon Waxman

Sharon Waxman, is the founder, CEO and Editor in Chief of TheWrap. She is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, and was a Hollywood correspondent for The New York Times. Twitter: @sharonwaxman

Comments

3 responses to “Motion Picture Academy Vows to ‘Thoughtfully’ Address Criticism of ‘Antisemitic Tropes’ in Exhibit on Jewish Founders | Exclusive”

  1. cadavra Avatar
    cadavra

    I suspect I’m not the only one who thinks that this was the final straw that led to Jacqueline Stewart’s exit.

    Reply
  2. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Can the Academy be any more of a mess? None of this nonsense (let alone all the new Academy rules relating to membership and what it takes for a film to be considered for Best Picture) would be happening if Bill Mechanic still had a say on Academy matters!

    Reply
  3. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Let’s eliminate the double standard, treat the founders like goy, ignore their particular talents and flaws,  and simply call them white supremacists.  

    Reply

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