John Cusack apologises for antisemetic tweet featuring Star of David
Actor previously defended his tweet, blaming a 'bot'
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Your support makes all the difference.Say Anything actor John Cusack has apologised for a tweet that many have called anti-semitic.
Earlier this week, he retweeted an image of a giant hand – which was emblazoned with a Star of David symbol – overpowering a group of people. The caption of the image read: "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.”
The image claims the quote was from French satirist Voltaire, but it was actually spoken by white nationalist Kevin Alfred Strom. Cusack retweeted the message with his own words: “Follow the money.” The tweet has since been deleted.
Although he originally blamed the post on a Twitter bot, Cusack has issued an apology for the “harmful” impact on others.
He shared on Twitter: “I [retweeted] and quickly deleted an image that’s harmful to both Jewish and Palestinian friends, and for that I’m sorry”.
Previously, he had conveyed confusion at the source of the image: “A bot got me. I thought I was endorsing a pro Palestinian justice retweet of an earlier post. It came I think from a different source. Shouldn’t have retweeted.”
The post caused outrage online, with comedian David Baddiel joining in by tweeting: “John Cusack says he didn’t at first realise that the image was anti-Semitic,” he wrote. “My, it’s a troublesome old blind spot for progressives, isn’t it?”
The Independent has reached out to Cusack for comment.
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