Guy Pearce has apologized after reportedly posting “misinformation and falsehoods” on social media while showing his support of Palestine.
In keeping with Jewish News, the actor reportedly posted content featuring white nationalist and far-right political activist Nick Fuentes. Other posts reportedly claimed that the “top three pornography firms are owned by Jewish people,” blamed Israel for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and accused Israeli officials of orchestrating Charlie Kirk’s murder.
Pearce also reportedly shared posts from an account dubbed Corefitnessbynaz2. In keeping with Jewish News, the posts read: “Remember, when Zionists let you know Islam will destroy America… While several major Las Vegas casinos/hotels which have caused gambling addictions, debt and prostitution were created and owned by Jewish Zionists… The Zionists (not Jews) want you to fear the individuals who stand against the corruption they’re creating.”
Reached by Jewish News, Pearce offered an apology.
“It has been delivered to my attention that, in my support of Palestine, I even have inadvertently re-posted articles, and/or statements, which have contained misinformation and falsehoods,” the actor said. “I’m aware how sharing inaccurate content could cause confusion and distress; for this I’m deeply sorry. I will definitely endeavor to be more diligent in future to confirm anything I share online.”
Pearce has been vocal about his support of Palestine. Earlier this yr on the Oscars, where he was nominated for his role in The Brutalist, the actor paired his tuxedo with a small pin that depicted a white enamel dove embossed with “Free Palestine.”
And on the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, he wore a pin depicting the Palestinian flag, which resulted in an uproar after it was discovered that Vanity Fair France photoshopped the pin out of a picture that ran on its website. “Because the Palestinian persons are already suffering great trauma and loss attributable to the vengeful regime of Netanyahu, it’s most unlucky that a good publication like VF attempts to eliminate support that I or anyone chooses to supply,” Pearce told CNN on the time.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism acknowledged Pearce’s apology to the Jewish News but noted that it’s watching to see if he backs up his words with meaningful change.
“Guy Pearce has an extended track record of amplifying material that pushes among the most toxic antisemitic conspiracies,” the spokesperson said. “His posts haven’t been harmless activism; they’ve spread ideas that sit firmly throughout the canon of classic antisemitism. His apology is a step in the suitable direction, and it is correct that he acknowledges the damage that misinformation could cause. But apologies are easy to offer after the very fact. What matters now is whether or not he genuinely changes his behavior and stops promoting this type of content.
“Agents, studios and industrial partners will probably be watching closely. They need to think very fastidiously concerning the figures they endorse, and whether Guy Pearce’s actions — not only his latest words — exhibit that he’s a responsible person to be related to.”
It’s not the primary time that Pearce has found himself apologizing for social media posts. In 2023, he was criticized for a series of posts about casting involving trans actors.
“An issue – if the one people allowed to play trans characters r trans folk, then r we also suggesting the one people trans folk can play r trans characters?” Pearce wrote on the time. “Surely that may limit ur profession as an actor? Isn’t the purpose of an actor to have the opportunity play anyone outside ur own world?”
Pearce deleted the tweets and apologized: “I see that raising the query of gender identity throughout the casting process on a platform like Twitter was not idea. For that I apologise, enormously. The purpose I wanted to boost was one about defending the definition of acting and nothing more.”
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Pearce’s reps for extra comment.