- Blair, who is Jewish herself, caused a stir last week when she commented supportively on a pro-Israel activist’s Instagram video
- The video called out progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush after both voted against a bill to prevent Hamas terrorists from coming to the US.
- Blair, a disability rights activist alongside her career on screen, has now been called an Islamophobe
Actress Selma Blair faced backlash after a comment she left on Instagram that some called Islamophobic.
More than a week ago, Blair commented on a video posted by Abraham Hamra, a Syrian Jewish refugee who called out Squad members Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush for being the only members of Congress to vote against a measure banning anyone who took part in the October Revolution. 7 terror attacks from immigration to US
In a now-deleted comment, Blair captioned the video: “Thank you so much. Deport all these terrorist supporting goons.
‘Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroy the spirits. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate.’
In the video, Hamra calls Tlaib – the only Palestinian-American member of Congress – a “liar,” “idiot,” and “hateful anti-Semite.”
The video called out progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush after both voted against a bill to prevent Hamas terrorists from coming to the US.
“The truth,” says Hamra, “is that the Jews have been victims of the Arabs, and not the other way around.”
Tlaib defended her “no” vote, saying it is “redundant to pre-existing federal law.”
“It’s just another Republican Party bill being used to stoke anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hatred, making communities like ours unsafe,” she said.
Tlaib represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, which contains one of the largest Muslim communities in the US.
Blair, a Jew, who in addition to her on-screen career, has become a staunch activist for disability rights after her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis several years ago.
Social media users responded angrily to Blair’s comment: to claim she had ‘revealed herself as a raging Islamaphobic (sic) fanatic.’
The controversial activist group Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the actress.
“No one is born a bigot, and we should never assume that anyone is doomed to remain a bigot.
“Based on the hateful and ignorant comments Ms. Blair made, we doubt she has ever had any meaningful interactions with her Muslim colleagues in Hollywood or other members of the American Muslim community,” said the organization’s deputy director, Edward Ahmed Mitchell.
He also called on “Hollywood studios and agencies to stop punishing artists who express support for Palestinian human rights, while ignoring hateful comments from artists who support the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
A handful of other Hollywood celebrities, including Michael Rappaport and Debra Messing, also responded positively to the video.
“THANK YOU,” Messing wrote, adding several prayer hand emojis.
Tlaib (left) and Bush (right) speak in Washington, DC, just days after the October 7 attacks, demanding a ceasefire
Tlaib, wearing a keffiyeh, watches her colleague Cori Bush speak to protesters on the National Mall
Squad members Bush and Tlaib themselves have faced accusations of anti-Semitism since the war broke out following the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Tlaib was criticized by her colleagues in the House of Representatives in November for continued comments and actions regarding the war.
Bush has also been harshly criticized by her voters for her numerous comments against Israel, accusing the Jewish state of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide.”
Analysts currently predict that Bush will lose her upcoming primary by double digits against Attorney General Wesley Bell, who is also running as a Democrat in her Missouri district.
Two weeks ago, Bush confirmed she was under federal investigation for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign money on personal security, including services provided by the man who is now her husband.