David Schwimmer called on fellow Jewish members of Hollywood to make more of an effort when it comes to speaking out against antisemitism. Appearing as part of the Anti-Defamation League’s annual Never Is Now conference in New York City, the Friends actor noted that although “speaking out often comes at a cost” it doesn’t serve the community to be silent.
“My career has given me an incredible platform, a chance to talk about the issues that matter to me, and on a good day, a chance to be heard over the noise that drowns too many people out,” Schwimmer said. “I believe with that privilege comes a responsibility to use my voice in moments like this, at a time of danger, bigotry and violence.”
He continued, “Like so many others, I’ve been attacked and threatened by people I’ve never met. I’ve been abandoned by people I thought were friends and by organizations I thought were allies, but I’ve also found amazing moments of meaning and solidarity, and I want to remind you that there are so many good people out there who have our backs, incredible allies that we can we will get through this together, that our spirit is unbreakable, our joy is irrepressible.”
Schwimmer, who recently spoke up about Kanye West’s constant antisemitic rants on X, affirmed, “I get that speaking out is hard. Plenty of people I respect, even some of my heroes in entertainment, music and sports, have chosen to keep a low profile and sit this one out, including some whose careers have been made by leaning into their Jewish identity, and others who have won acclaim for playing Jews onscreen. Some of them are doing a lot behind the scenes, privately and in their own way, but so many have chosen not to say anything publicly at all. And if I can say something directly to them: I really wish you would.”
He added, “I wish you would stand up. I wish you would speak out, because your voice would be so meaningful to your fans who love you, to your community members who need you, to folks who can use just a little solidarity right now. No one’s asking you to solve the conflict of the Middle East. Just say that you stand with your Jewish friends, colleagues, and neighbors against hatred and what’s happening on our college campuses and in our schools and to Jewish-owned businesses is totally unacceptable.”
Schwimmer was on hand at the Never Is Now conference to present the inaugural ADL Heroes Against Hate award. The actor previously appeared at the annual conference in 2022. This year’s event featured a keynote address from Gal Gadot.
Last month, Schwimmer blasted Elon Musk on Saturday for allowing West to use X to make “hate filled” antisemitic (along with more racist and misogynistic) statements. In an Instagram post, Schwimmer addressed the DOGE leader directly. “This is so 2022. We can’t stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk,” he wrote.
“I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own), or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point,” Schwimmer continued, before closing with: “Silence is complicity.”
