‘I Was Cancelled’: The Chilling Reality of Antisemitism in Australia’s Arts Industry as Stars Reveal Fears and Shame
- Artists and creatives reveal the devastating impact of antisemitism in Australia’s arts industry, with many too afraid to publicly exhibit their work.
- Jewish comedian CGM shares his heart-wrenching experience of being targeted by hate speech and feeling “fear and shame” after a terror attack.
- The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion hears evidence of a Culture of Fear, where artists are intimidated into silence and Jewish events are vandalized.
- Experts warn of a growing trend of antisemitism in Australia, with the arts industry becoming a battleground for hate speech and intolerance.
The Australian arts industry is reeling from a wave of antisemitism, with many Jewish creatives too afraid to publicly exhibit their work or speak out against hate speech.
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has heard heart-wrenching evidence from artists and comedians who have been targeted by hate speech and intimidation.
Artist Nina Sanadze told the inquiry she was “cancelled” and dropped from a residency after describing the terrorist group Hamas as “animals” in a private message that was leaked online.
Ms Sanadze said she was immediately “dropped” from friendship groups and was told by the art institution she was attached to that it would be “inappropriate” for her to come to the studio.
Ms Sanadze’s experience is not an isolated incident. Jewish comedian CGM, who gave evidence to the inquiry using a pseudonym, shared his own heart-wrenching experience of being targeted by hate speech.
CGM said he was outside a bar speaking to a non-Jewish friend who said to him, “You don’t experience antisemitism do you? You don’t even look Jewish.” CGM replied, “What does Jewish look like, horns?”
CGM’s synagogue in Melbourne was set on fire, and the synagogue where he did his bar mitzvah was rammed by a car. His workplace was also firebombed and graffitied with a depiction of his Jewish boss with horns.
CGM said he started to isolate himself after the October 7, 2023 attack, but was encouraged by a comic with a Muslim background to continue performing.
Rabbi Alon Meltzer, from the Shalom Collective, a not-for-profit Jewish organisation that runs arts and cultural events, gave evidence to the inquiry about the impact of antisemitism on the creative community.
Rabbi Meltzer said the 2024 doxxing event, where personal information of Jewish creatives was published online, marked a turning point for the Jewish community.
“There was this consolidation of fear within the creative community and this very real feeling and articulation that the world had seismically shifted under their feet,” Rabbi Meltzer said.
“We had to change the way we organised events, with security needs becoming the primary concern.”
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The evidence presented to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion paints a chilling picture of a culture of fear and intimidation in Australia’s arts industry.
The fact that Jewish creatives are too afraid to publicly exhibit their work or speak out against hate speech is a damning indictment of our society.
Security analysts say that the growing trend of antisemitism in Australia is a major concern, particularly in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack. “The arts industry is becoming a battleground for hate speech and intolerance,” one analyst said.
“We need to take a strong stance against antisemitism and ensure that our creative communities feel safe and supported.”
Law enforcement insiders warn that the online harassment and intimidation of Jewish creatives is a significant concern, and that more needs to be done to protect them from hate speech and cyberbullying.
“We need to work closely with social media companies and online platforms to ensure that they are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of hate speech and harassment,” one insider said.
The economic and social consequences of antisemitism in the arts industry cannot be overstated.
If Jewish creatives are too afraid to participate in the industry, it will have a devastating impact on the diversity and richness of our cultural landscape.
It is imperative that we take action to address the growing trend of antisemitism in Australia, and ensure that our creative communities feel safe and supported.
We must work together to create a culture of tolerance and respect, where everyone can feel free to express themselves without fear of intimidation or harassment.
