Helen Mirren called an “evil Zionist bitch” by pro-Palestine activist in London
Dame Helen Mirren was shouted at on a London street by a pro-Palestine activist, who labelled the actor an “evil Zionist bitch”.
The clip was uploaded to Instagram on May 27th by an anonymous user, called Anti Fascist Action UK, who took responsibility for the video.
In the short clip, Mirren can be seen walking with her husband, Taylor Hackford, when she is greeted by the man, who launches into an attack over her support of Israel.
The anonymous man filmed himself telling the 80-year-old actor, “And there is Helen Mirren the avowed Zionist. You said Israel should last forever because of the Holocaust. And she was very happy the Palestinians’ houses were gone.”
He added, “You are an evil Zionist bitch.” The activist then turned his attention to Hackford, stating, “You as well, fuck you and all.”
Throughout the confrontation, Hackford repeatedly told the man to “fuck off” and to leave the couple alone.
In the caption of the original Instagram post, Mirren and Hackford were referred to as “two old cnts who deserve nothing but disdain”.
In July 2023, Mirren starred in Golda, the biopic of Israel’s fourth Prime Minister, Golda Meir.
While promoting the film, she appeared on Israeli TV and pledged her full support for the country, stating (via The Times of Israel), “I believe in Israel, in the existence of Israel, and I believe Israel has to go forward into the future, for the rest of eternity. I believe in Israel because of the Holocaust.”
She also explained why she opposed a cultural boycott of Israel, claiming “it didn’t seem right” to “abandon artists in Israel”, before adding, “It is the artistic community that I believe will carry Israel forward.”
More recently, Mirren, along with the likes of Gene Simmons, Mila Kunis, Scooter Braun, Amy Schumer and Sharon Osbourne, signed an open letter in support of Israel participating in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
It came after musicians such as Paul Weller, Kneecap and Massive Attack signed a separate open letter calling for a boycott over the inclusion of Israel in the competition.
Mirren is yet to comment on the video circulating on social media.
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