Jamie Lee Curtis slammed for 'textbook performative activism' after she posts in support of Israel with pic of children from Gaza
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: After Kylie Jenner, the Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis has found herself at the receiving end of flak on the internet for posting a message in support of Israel on Saturday, October 8.
However, the photo she chose to post was a photo taken in Gaza after the extremist group Hamas attacked Israel followed by Israel’s counterstrike, per Yahoo! News.
On her Instagram, the ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ actress shared a picture of a group of children looking upward at the sky and captioned the post "Terror from the skies," with an Israeli flag emoji.
The internet was quick to point out that the photo was taken in Palestine. The photo was captured by Gaza-based photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf.
She posted the picture with the caption, "Palestinian families seek refuge with their children from the northern Gaza Strip to UNRWA schools inside Gaza City, children are afraid of the sound of bombing who hear it during their presence due to the events on the Strip’s borders."
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After Curtis was called out, she deleted the post.
Social media users, however, soon called her out by saying her support was just "textbook performative activism."
Jamie Lee Curtis' post labeled 'textbook performative activism'
As news of Curtis' blunder surfaced on X, formerly Twitter, many people were disappointed by the actress's post as they called it an instance of "textbook performative activism."
One social media user commented, "I wonder if these celebrities actually know whats happening or if they just repost whatever is trending to stay relevant."
i wonder if these celebrities actually know whats happening or if they just repost whatever is trending to stay relevant
— abdullah (@BehtareenInsan) October 8, 2023
Someone else slammed her, saying, "This is how you know these celebrities know NOTHING about what’s actually going on."
this is how you know these celebrities know NOTHING about what’s actually going on
— viviana (fan) (@repmiIas) October 8, 2023
"Textbook performative activism while doing absolutely no research," condemned another angered netizen.
textbook performative activism while doing absolutely no research
— a girl with no face ⚡️ (@Stop_Hammerzeit) October 8, 2023
Another social media user explained the situation, saying, "It is important to approach complex political situations, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with nuance and sensitivity. The conflict spans decades and involves deep-rooted historical, political and humanitarian issues."
It is important to approach complex political situations, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with nuance and sensitivity. The conflict spans decades and involves deep-rooted historical, political and humanitarian issues.
— JahanZaib (@JahanZaibb_) October 8, 2023
"That’s a bit awkward," noted someone else. Another concerned netizen asked, "Do they actually care or it’s just FOMO?"
Another one quipped, "... Actors and actresses need to just not say anything during these times. Just hush."
... actors and actresses need to just not say anything during these times. Just hush.
— ʟᴇᴀɢᴜᴇ (@leaguedontmiss) October 8, 2023
Someone else condemned her, saying, "Jamie Lee Curtis reposting a picture of Palestinian children in Gaza and captioning it with the Israeli flag is some serious shameless lying."
Jamie Lee Curtis reposting a picture of Palestinian children in Gaza and captioning it with the Israeli flag is some serious shameless lying
— Renaissance Tour withdrawal | 🇵🇸 (@ComradeX02) October 8, 2023
When you support Israel, you need to lie in order to make your case pic.twitter.com/9sCl2gHIpv
"Jamie lee curtis posting a pic from gaza and thinking it’s from israel is kinda funny ngl," said another social media user.
jamie lee curtis posting a pic from gaza and thinking it’s from israel is kinda funny ngl pic.twitter.com/6yqpLOpGJZ
— sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) October 8, 2023
Kylie Jenner was trolled for posting and deleting pro-Israel image
Not only Jamie Lee Curtis but 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' star Kylie Jenner also faced major backlash after she posted a pro-Israel message on her Instagram account on October 7.
On Saturday, as the Palestinian extremist group Hamas attacked Israel near the Gaza border, the Kylie Cosmetics founder shared a screenshot of a @standwithus post where the text read, "Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel."
The mother-of-two was similarly slammed for her post. Within minutes, Jenner deleted the post as well.
But the 26-year-old reality TV star was slammed nonetheless, as fans called her action an instance of "performative activism."
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