The infamous Hollywood blacklist returned to public consciousness with a bang this month, as rumours spread that Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem were facing a blanket studio ban. The rumours came in the wake of Bardem and Cruz’s public support for Gaza, which saw the couple sign an open letter condemning the actions of Israel as tantamount to “genocide.”

The actors, along with director Pedro Almodovar, were among over one hundred film professionals to sign the letter calling for an end to Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Their actions have reportedly sparked anger among several top Hollywood executives, with one studio executive telling The Hollywood Reporter that he was “furious at Javier and Penelope” and querying whether he would want to work with the couple again. Ryan Kavanagh, chief executive of Relativity Media, said the letter “makes my blood boil. As the grandson of Holocaust survivors, I know that anyone calling what’s going on in Israel ‘genocide’ versus self-defence is either ignorant and shouldn’t be commenting, or is truly anti-semitic.”
Kavanagh claimed to have received over 500 emails, calls and texts of support, including messages from high-ranking industry executives, and a producer who had worked with Cruz previously and vowed not to do so again.
Contrary to reports, this doesn’t actually evoke the ‘blacklist’, which was an agreement between the industry and the House UnAmerican Activities Committee to banish certain people from the business. During the 1940s and ’50s, it was strictly enforced, mainly affecting actors, writers and filmmakers suspected to have communist leanings. It is certain that both Cruz and Bardem will work again – but the public backlash does show the complexity and high emotions surrounding the situation in Gaza. While it’s a rare Hollywood executive who will comment on a filmmaker’s alleged (or proven) history of committing child sex abuse, domestic violence, racism, misogyny etc, they are now clamouring over each other to be outraged at actors who dare to take a public stance on a political issue. Cruz and Bardem aren’t the first celebrities to find themselves caught in the PR crossfire regarding Gaza. Rihanna recently tweeted “#FreePalestine’, then was swiftly forced to apologise for causing any offence. Even usually outspoken activists like Sean Penn and George Clooney have remained silent on the issue, with a publicist remarking that Penn would most likely keep quiet on the hot-button political issue. “Gaza is just too messy. And you never know whose backing you’ll need for your next movie.”
It’s a sad indictment of Hollywood that actors and filmmakers are being punished for opposing slaughter, while genuine criminals and abusers find support as long as they keep bringing the money in. Apparently Tinseltown believes that words indeed speak louder than actions.