Mubi CEO releases new statement refuting claims of ties to Israeli military
The CEO of Mubi, a streaming service and film distributor, has shared an open letter that aims to clarify the claims that Mubi is explicitly tied to the Israeli military through its investor, Sequoia Capital.
Mubi had released a previous statement after facing backlash for their new partnership with the private equity firm Sequoia Capital, which has close ties to defence-tech startup Kela. Kela was founded in 2024 by a group of Israeli intelligence veterans and is allegedly developing a battlefield operating system that will allow military units to integrate AI and commercial tech.
Now, CEO Efe Cakarel has released his own statement on the topic. The lengthy letter begins with Cakarel’s reaction to the scenes in Gaza: “What’s happening in Gaza is unbelievably tragic and devastating. The loss of civilian lives, including thousands of children, the destruction of homes, hospitals, and cultural institutions, and the deliberate targeting of an entire population’s ability to survive and thrive are unconscionable.”
He continued, “Following the investment from Sequoia, some have suggested that we are complicit in the events occurring in Gaza. These accusations are fundamentally at odds with the values we hold as individuals and as a company.”
Cakarel insisted, “Any suggestion that our work is connected to funding the war is simply untrue.”
Turning to the specific relationship with Sequoia, the media mogul continued, “Shaun Maguire, the Sequoia partner at the center of much of this controversy, is not a partner of any of the funds that invested in MUBI. He has no involvement with our company operationally, strategically, or in any capacity. He is not on our board, has no relationship with our team, and played no role in our partnership with Sequoia.”
In reaction to the recent backlash and a scandal in which Mubi were accused of censoring a filmmaker who spoke out about their complicity, Cakarel announced two key organisational changes.
First, Mubi is formalising an ethical funding and investment policy that will be open for public consultation. Second, the company is also forming an independent Artists Advisory Council to be established on September 15th. “This group will include filmmakers, artists, and cultural voices from different regions alongside a human-rights due diligence expert,” the letter explains.
The CEO signs the letter off “warmly” with his reaffirmed commitment to continue to “champion bold and diverse voices, stay true to the values that define us, and ensure that exceptional filmmaking reaches the widest possible audience.”
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