Weak: Mark Ruffalo apologizes for comments implying Israel committed genocide

Mark Ruffalo apologized for comments he made that implied Israel committed genocide.

The actor is usually very outspoken on issues like climate change on social media. While he's often steadfast in the political opinions and causes he champions online, he took to Twitter on Monday night to walk back previous posts he shared that he now believes were "inflammatory" and "disrespectful."

"I have reflected & wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing 'genocide,'" he wrote. "It's not accurate, it's inflammatory, disrespectful & is being used to justify antisemitism here & abroad. Now is the time to avoid hyperbole."

Although the "Avengers: Endgame" actor did not specify which of his past posts he was apologizing for, he's likely referencing a pair of tweets shared days apart that likens the actions of the Israeli government to apartheid in South Africa, which saw the government uphold a system of segregationist policies directed at every non-white in the country.

"1500 Palestinians face expulsion in #Jerusalem. 200 protesters have been injured. 9 children have been killed," he wrote on May 11. "Sanctions on South Africa helped free its black people - it's time for sanctions on Israel to free Palestinians. Join the call. #SheikhJarrah."

Comment: It couldn't be that tweet. That tweet is true.

The actor's words came alongside a petition that used similar language to call for international sanctions on Israel.

He shared a similar post with the same petition again on May 15.

As the fighting continued and tensions over the conflict made their way to the United States, Ruffalo spoke out about the rise in anti-Semitic behavior stemming from heated opinions over the conflict.

"Dear people, despite our frustration over the fighting in Gaza and our anger, that is no excuse to attack or intimidate innocent people," he wrote on May 19. "Assaults of Jewish people or attacks on others won't bring justice to anyone, only perpetuate more injustice and hate."

Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire after days of conflict that followed Hamas launching a barrage of rockets into Israel earlier this month, targeting Jerusalem, southern Israel and Tel Aviv. Israel responded with a series of airstrikes. At least 181 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, including 52 children and 31 women, with 1,225 wounded while eight Israelis were killed, including a 5-year-old boy and a soldier.

Reader Comments

ROEL · 2021-05-25T17:27:06Z

He doesn't want to lose his job.

Yupo · 2021-05-25T17:53:15Z

Seems like there are enough quality actors and directors our there to start a whole new film paradigm by growing a pair. Sure, they'd have to take a pay cut, but so what? The world would support them in their work, or so I think. C'mon over to the light side. The rest of us live on very little and manage to be happy anyway.

JB17 · 2021-05-25T18:15:02Z

Yupo The world might support him/them but as the Zionist control Hollywood he/they would simply never get another job. I expect they let him understand that, which forced his back paddle.

Rowan Cocoan · 2021-05-25T18:24:21Z

JB17 & Yupo: I like Y's idea but it won't work until the Fed is shut down.

As re back paddle, it's more like a backwash.

RC

Yupo · 2021-05-25T20:47:40Z

Rowan Cocoan Don't know if true or not, but I heard about a very successful production company that worked on a relatively small budget. They supposedly got such top tier talent working on their projects just for relative pocket change and the opportunity to be in really good stuff. Probably the stories were in the public domain. [Link]
Go fund me could do a lot. Imagine being unshackled from the system out there. OTOH, they might be controlled as much as the actors in DC, and the same way.