Actor Josh Malina has criticized pop star Madonna for sharing a video of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan on Instagram.
Madonna posted a trailer of Farrakhan’s July 4 address earlier that same day. In his address, Farrakhan accused Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt of being “Satan” and said that Jews should abandon the Talmud.
Malina tweeted to Madonna on July 23, “The little red string you wear doesn’t count for s— when you amplify the voice of an anti-Semite, @Madonna.”
The little red string you wear doesn’t count for shit when you amplify the voice of an antisemite, @Madonna. https://t.co/Hh6OotF58P
— – (@JoshMalina) July 23, 2020
“The little red string” is a reference to how, in the past, Madonna considered herself a follower of Kabbalah, a more mystical interpretation of Judaism. Madonna popularized a Kabbalah teaching of wearing red string bracelets as a means of preventing bad luck.
The American Jewish Committee also criticized Madonna for promoting Farrakhan.
“.@Madonna, Louis Farrakhan is a vicious anti-Semite and homophobe who has referred to Jews as vermin and is widely regarded as one of the most prominent purveyors of hate in America,” the Jewish group tweeted. “We urge you to take down this ill-advised post.”
.@Madonna, Louis Farrakhan is a vicious antisemite and homophobe who has referred to Jews as vermin and is widely regarded as one of the most prominent purveyors of hate in America.
We urge you to take down this ill-advised post.https://t.co/8Jr5DcIrNr
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) July 20, 2020
The Algemeiner compiled screenshots from Madonna’s recent Instagram stories calling for Apple and Google to put “Palestine back on the map,” referencing how a rumor had spread on social media that Apple and Google had removed the word “Palestine” from their respective maps. A spokesperson for Google told Agence France-Presse that their maps have never labeled the Palestinian territories as “Palestine.”
The Algemeiner also posted a screenshot of Madonna glorifying a quote from progressive activist Angela Davis that read, “Black solidarity with Palestine allows us to understand the nature of contemporary racism more deeply.”
Journal contributor and Israel-based writer Hen Mazzig tweeted, “Madonna should face the same level of criticism as Nick Canon and DeSean Jackson, especially since she has been appropriating and fetishizing Jewish identity and traditions for years. No one gets a free pass on anti-Semitism.”
Madonna should face the same level of criticism as Nick Canon and DeSean Jackson, especially since she has been appropriating and fetishizing Jewish identity and traditions for years. No one gets a free pass on antisemitism.
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) July 24, 2020
Mazzig wrote in response to a question on how Madonna has appropriated Judaism: “Other than the Kabbalah stuff, featuring Tfilin in her music videos and throwing a Bar Mitzvah for her son?”
Other than the Kabbalah stuff, featuring Tfilin in her music videos and throwing a Bar Mitzvah for her son? https://t.co/vZXFZg1DqG
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) July 24, 2020
Madonna has held concerts in Israel multiple times in the past, including during Israel’s hosting of the Eurovision contest in 2019. Her dancers wore both Israeli and Palestinian flags on their backs during the performance.
