Over 150 Entertainment Industry Figures Protest Emmy Nomination of Journalist Linked to Gaza Terror Ties

A growing number of actors and entertainment industry insiders are calling on the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to revoke its Emmy nomination for Gazan documentarian Bisan Atef Owda. The outcry, led by the nonprofit Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), stems from Owda’s alleged ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization, and her history of anti-Semitic rhetoric.

More than 150 prominent figures, including actresses Debra Messing, Selma Blair, and Emmanuelle Chriqui, as well as Hollywood executives like former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing and Saban Capital Group CEO Haim Saban, signed a letter to the Emmy Awards organization. They urged the Emmys to reconsider honoring Owda, whose documentary It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive was nominated in the 2024 News & Documentary category.

“The Emmys’ decision to honor someone with clear ties to a U.S.-designated terrorist group is inexcusable and should have never happened,” the letter reads. “It would be legitimizing a terrorist organization.” The CCFP emphasized that Owda’s participation in events celebrating the PFLP, including a 2015 rally where she wore the group’s militant uniform and advocated for the destruction of Israel, is well-documented.

Owda’s nomination has sparked controversy not only because of her past but also due to the content of her work. Her documentary, nominated alongside its publisher AJ+, part of the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera network, has been criticized for spreading anti-Israel propaganda. The CCFP’s letter also highlights Owda’s use of social media to propagate misinformation and her repeated accusations that Israel is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Despite the growing backlash, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has defended its decision to nominate Owda. Adam Sharp, president of the Academy, responded to the CCFP’s letter by stating that while the Academy is aware of the reports of Owda’s ties to the PFLP, they have not been able to corroborate them or find evidence of more recent involvement with the terrorist organization.

The Academy’s decision to stand by Owda’s nomination has further fueled criticism. “Honoring someone linked to an organization that has caused so much pain and suffering is not just irresponsible; it is a direct affront to the values we hold dear in the entertainment industry,” the CCFP’s letter argues.

The controversy underscores the broader issue of rising anti-Semitism within the arts and the complex challenges of maintaining ethical standards in the entertainment industry. As the debate continues, many in Hollywood are watching closely to see how the Academy will navigate this situation, which has cast a shadow over the integrity of one of television’s most prestigious awards.

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