Hollywood’s power couple Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz may have gotten themselves blacklisted from the film industry due to their open letter about Israel attack on Gaza. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz’s letter to the European Union, which contained 100 signatures of film professionals, called Israel’s attack on Gaza a “genocide”. This made many Jewish professionals in Hollywood angry.

According to WebProNews, Ryan Kavanaugh, chief executive of Relativity Media, went public to openly criticize Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz.

He said, “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.”

He also added that, after publishing his opinions about the Spanish couple, he received over “500 calls, text messages and e-mails of support”.

Looks like there are many people that think Javier and Penelope are anti-Semites.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, other anonymous Hollywood executives have spoken against the couple. Actor Jon Voight wrote a counter open letter, saying that Javier and Penelope should “hang their heads in shame” for contributing to the “anti-Semitism that is raging all over the world”.

But all Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz wanted to do was to seek some peace in the Middle East. “My signature was solely meant as a plea for peace. Destruction and hatred only generate more hatred and destruction,” Bardem said according to WebProNews. “While I was critical of the Israeli military response, I have great respect for the people of Israel and deep compassion for their losses.”

Do you think Javier and Penelope should be penalized for having an opinion about Israel and Gaza? Let me know in the comments below!