“You[r] daily reminder,” the actor John Cusack posted on Jan. 18 to his 1.8 million followers. “Bibi Netenyahu [sic] promoted and backed Hamas—to ensure a two state solution never came to pass.”
On Dec. 15, Cusack wrote that “Israel is not am [sic] occupying force” may “be the craziest thing ever said.” He added: “There is not a universe that exists—where Israel is not the occupying power in Gaza.”
Those are some of the recent anti-Israel posts, often riddled with typos, by the actor, who apologized in 2019 after posting an antisemitic cartoon.
In the drawing, a hand—emerging from a sleeve with a Star of David—squashes people below. The caption, “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize,” is misattributed to Voltaire.
In case you were wondering, John Cusack didn't suddenly become an Antisemite when Israel struck back against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) January 17, 2024
He's been a rabid one for many, many years already, but apparently, not everyone noticed. https://t.co/JqATsWo73l
Cusack deleted the post. The next day, he wrote: “It’s clear that even if it was Israel’s flag and even if you don’t have antisemitic bone in your body, it is still an antisemitic cartoon. Because it deploys anti-Jewish stereotypes in its attacks on Israel, even if those critiques about state violence are legit. I mistakenly [sic].”
In recent weeks, many Jewish X users have posted screenshots suggesting that Cusack has blocked them.
“For Jewish Twitter, getting blocked by John Cusack is the new blue check,” wrote the handle Modern Talmud, referring to the platform’s prior verification system for notable accounts.
“Kinda offended to be what seems like the only Zionist that John Cusack hasn’t blocked. What is wrong with me?” wrote Hillel Fuld to his 108,000 followers. “Am I not Jewish enough to be worthy of a block from a flaming antisemite? I’m questioning my whole identity now. John, what does a man have to do?”
Rachel Feldman, who has nearly 2,500 followers, shared a picture of herself in response to one of Cusack’s tweets. She wears multiple necklaces, including one with a Star of David and one that says “Bring them home now.”
“Hi, I’m Rachel. I’m a Zionist. I’m a Jew. And I’m (necklace) stacked,” she wrote. “Block me bro.”
“Why should I block you,” Cusack replied. “You haven’t lied smeared or said anything offensive yet.”
Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, director of Chabad of the Bluegrass and of the University of Kentucky Jewish Student Center, wrote that he has been calling Cusak out for his “unhinged antisemitism since before it was cool, and yet he hasn’t blocked me.”
“It feels antisemitic,” he wrote.
