The actress made the career comments while premiering her new Italian film, ‘The Echo Chamber,’ at the Venice Film Festival
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NEED TO KNOW
- Susan Sarandon said her political views have led to her losing movie roles and agency representation
- The actress made controversial remarks about American Jews in 2023 but apologized, calling her phrasing a “terrible mistake”
- Sarandon’s new film, The Echo Chamber, premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 6
Susan Sarandon says her politics have cost her movie roles.
At the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 6, the Oscar-winning actress, 79 — whose pro-Palestine comments in 2023 led to her being dropped by her talent agency — was asked if the “tides [are] changing” in the entertainment industry three years later.
“I think that the narrative has completely changed,” she said. “There’s a lot of things that people are aware of now.”
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“In terms of the power structure,” she continued, “I’ve still had movies taken away recently, because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still. But that’s the power structure.”
“Certainly internationally, I feel welcome,” added Sarandon, whose new film premiering at the Venice Film Festival, The Echo Chamber, is an Italian production.
“So it depends. If it’s a major studio, I think there is, not just with me, but with other people, that have been told that that is impossible,” she further stated.
Speaking about her latest project, Sarandon said, “In terms of doing this film, I thank [director] Andrea [Pallaoro] for that, because he didn’t listen to the warnings.”
“So I think, yes, there has been a change in terms of understanding of the situation, and I think the general public, but there are still very strongly held positions within my industry held by Zionists and [those] who have not relaxed their feelings towards me. But I found my family, I found my people, and I’m okay,” she continued.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show alum’s comments were met with applause from those in attendance during the conference.
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In December 2023, Sarandon released statement on Instagram, apologizing for saying that American Jews were “getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country,” following Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Her controversial remarks were made at a rally in New York City a month prior.
“This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true,” Sarandon said at the time.
Her statement ended with a promise to continue pursuing humanitarian values and to hold an open dialogue on complex issues.
“I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice, and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree,” she wrote.
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Sarandon’s statement and apology came after PEOPLE confirmed that she had been dropped by her agency, UTA, after her comments were widely circulated in late November 2023.
The Echo Chamber premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 6. A release in Italy follows on Sept. 10.
