Susan Sarandon accuses United Talent Agency of 'sensationalizing' decision to drop her after Palestine rally remarks

Susan Sarandon has accused her former Hollywood talent agency of 'sensationalizing' the decision to drop her after her controversial comments at a pro-Palestine rally last year.

In November 2023 Oscar-winner Sarandon, 78, was axed by United Talent Agency, who had represented her for a decade - after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City. 

Sarandon - who says she will never work in Hollywood again - claimed to Variety her former representatives had 'rushed' to a news site to make the announcement, saying: 'I don’t know how Nancy Gates and Shani Rosenzweig, friends and representatives for 10 years, came to the decisions to drop me.

'Nancy informed me she was a Zionist as an explanation. I’ve been politically active my entire life so for them to rush to Page Six at this particular time to make the announcement shows the intention of sensationalizing their decision. I believe everyone has a right to boycott. It’s one of the few useful tools voiceless populations have.

The unrepentant star added: 'I have lost work. I have lost friends and family, but I have also gained inspiration from those who care enough about humanity and believe enough in the possibility of a better world to raise their voices to stop genocide. 

'I’m grateful for my new empathic, brave friends and family. I abhor violence against any population. Just as large of a threat is the crushing of our First Amendment rights. That is what makes fascism possible. No one is free until all of us are free.'

UTA - which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer - has never publicly stated why they axed Sarandon.

DailyMail.com has contacted a UTA representative for comment.

Sarandon has been  vocal in her support for Palestine, and present at several rallies calling for a ceasefire in Gaza since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

She then apologized for her remarks, saying that she had not planned to speak at the rally, but had been invited to address the crowd, and had intended to 'highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza'.

Now in a new interview with The Times Sarandon has reflected on how the controversy led to the departure of her agent and how she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films. 

She told the publication: 'I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled. I've been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.

'There are so many people out of work right now since November of last year… who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, or liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire.'

Asked if she would ever be offered a big film role again she replied: 'I don't know. Not anything in Hollywood.' 

Back in July Susan apologized for her remarks, saying her 'phrasing was a terrible mistake' while covering the latest issue of Elle Spain.

She also reiterated her desire to end the 'genocide' in Gaza, saying she had long been motivated to stand against injustice.

Covering the magazine, the actress explained that her position has a famous actress is a 'loudspeaker' allowing her to bring visibility to social issues.

Accepting that by speaking out she has ensured her blacklisting by a large part of the industry, Susan insisted that everyone had to come together to stop Israelis and Palestinians dying, because 'no one deserves to die this way.'

She said: 'Injustice has always hurt and angered me. I grew up in Washington in the 60s, with the Vietnam War hovering over that time and assassinations like Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. overshadowing our culture.

'I didn't have to force myself to educate myself in this sense, it was the only plausible option. 

'That's why I'm so surprised by the misinformation that exists today, at a time when we have everything within our reach. 

'It is up to each of us to stop the genocide that is happening in Gaza, and that means that Israelis and Palestinians stop dying. No one deserves to die this way.

'I understand that it is hard to accept that we are all part of the problem, but a war like this is only forged with our taxes, with your money and mine.

'That's why it's admirable that countries like Spain, Ireland or Norway raise their voices and say: 'We don't want to contribute to this.''

Susan recalled:  'I realized that my profession carried with it a loudspeaker in the 70s, when the United States introduced the Equal Rights Amendment.

'At one of the marches I was walking with Marlo Thomas, and she said to me: 'The only way we are going to be in the news is for you to speak.' And I did it, scared to death but I did it, because it is the way of life that I conceive.'

Susan has previously protested for the visibility of AIDS, to end the war in Iraq and against gun violence, even being arrested.

She was arrested in June 2018 at the Women Disobey protests for protesting against Donald Trump's controversial migrant policy of separating children from their parents.

While her second arrest was last year at a protest to raise the minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers.

She said: 'It will never cease to surprise me that an American thinks that someone is desperate to enter our country, when what they are really trying to do is achieve a dignified, stable and, above all, free life.'

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star previously caused controversy in November, after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City.

She apologised for her remarks, saying that she had not planned to speak at the rally, but had been invited to address the crowd, and had intended to 'highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza'.

But Susan acknowledged that her words ignored 'centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe' as well as recent atrocities, such as the Tree of Life synagogue attack.

Taking to her Instagram, she said: 'Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, 'are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.'

'This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true. 

'As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe, to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day. 

'I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment. It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.'

'I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice, and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree.'

Susan has continued to be an advocate for Palestinian rights, and proudly wore  a pro Palestinian button on the red carpet on Thursday for the New York premiere for her new film The Fabulous Four.

In April, she joined a host of film stars and directors donating memorabilia and time to a Cinema for Gaza auction to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Palestine, including Paul Mescal, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Tessa Thompson, Louis Theroux, Jonathan Glazer and Stellan Skarsgård.