Susan Sarandon Emotionally Laments ‘Censorship’ In America

Susan Sarandon’s profession has not been the identical since she publicly supported Gaza, and he or she is now sharing that she feels silenced. 

The “Dead Man Walking” actress saw her skilled world shift dramatically, from losing agency representation to missing out on major roles and facing intense public backlash.

Although she later acknowledged that parts of her remarks were a mistake, Sarandon says that three years later, nothing has modified. She continues to feel restricted on account of censorship in America. 

Ahead of the Spanish Film Academy’s Goya Awards ceremony, where she is about to be honored for her body of labor, Sarandon reflected on how her activism reshaped her profession.

“I used to be fired by my agency, specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza, for asking for a ceasefire,” Sarandon said in a conference, as seen in a video on Instagram. “It became unattainable for me to even be on television.”

Fighting back tears, Sarandon continued that she struggled to secure major roles or any roles in any respect in Hollywood.

With opportunities within the U.S. closed off, she found agents in Italy and England. There, she performed at London’s Old Vic and took on independent projects.

The “Little Women” actress added that the stigma persists. “I do know this Italian director that [sic] just hired me, he was told not to rent me, in order that’s still recent. He didn’t listen, but they’d that conversation.” 

While mentioning that she now does small movies with directors who are only starting, she compared the mental freedom in Italy to the U.S. She said, per Variety:

“In a spot where you are feeling repression and censorship, to see Spain and to see the president and what he says and the support that he’s giving about Gaza, and to have actors like Javier Bardem come forward with such a powerful voice, is so vital to us in the USA.”

Sarandon’s latest revelations about her profession struggles aren’t the primary time she has addressed the backlash from her 2023 pro-Palestine rally speech.

Based on The Blast, the 79-year-old actress faced immediate consequences after her remarks, including heavy criticism and the lack of her representation at United Talent Agency, led by CEO Jeremy Zimmer.

Sarandon, who had been with the agency since 2014, admitted on the time that her future within the industry felt highly uncertain.

Reflecting on the experience, Sarandon said she believes she was deliberately made an example inside Hollywood, a warning to other actors in regards to the potential cost of speaking out on politically sensitive issues.

Sarandon’s activism also led to indie production company PTO Movies removing her from consideration for his or her short film “Slipping Away.”

As The Blast previously reported, the corporate’s co-founder, David Barroso, clarified the choice in an announcement, noting that Sarandon’s “views don’t reflect the opinions” of their organization.

Sarandon was set to play Dr. Sylvia Mansfield within the thriller, which follows a person with schizophrenia grappling with psychosis and his wife’s extramarital affair. The project had been listed on her IMDb page under “pre-production,” but has since been removed.

The Academy Award-winning actress’ fallout continued even after she quickly issued an apology for her comments, acknowledging the harm they caused.

On the rally, she had said that American Jews were “getting a taste of what it appears like to be a Muslim on this country.” She later clarified that it was never her intention to make such a comparison.

“This phrasing was a terrible mistake, because it implies that until recently, Jews have been strangers to persecution when the alternative is true,” she clarified, in keeping with The Blast.

While Sarandon continues to navigate her own Hollywood fallout, her daughter Eva Amurri has faced criticism of a unique kind. Amurri drew attention for her chest size after wearing a strapless Kim Kassas gown with a corset-style neckline at her wedding to Lan Hock in 2024.

While Amurri praised the dress’s vintage appeal and female charm, saying it struck the balance she wanted for her big day, she recently clapped back on the critics, undergoing breast reduction surgery. 

Based on The Blast, Amurri got candid in regards to the procedure, admitting she had a “mental breakdown” before it. Nonetheless, she reassured fans that the surgery was “easy” and “great.”