170 Celebs, Execs to Launch New ‘Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance’

More than 170 leaders of the entertainment industry released a unity statement on Feb. 1 after launching the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance (BJEA), a joint initiative by Black and Jewish entertainment industry professionals devoted to countering racism and anti-Semitism. 

In the face of institutional racism and rising anti-Semitism the members of the Alliance feel it is critical to stand together and support one another.

Signatories of the statement include Billy Porter (“Pose”), Mayim Bialik (“Call Me Kat”) Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”), Sharon Osbourne, Tiffany Haddish, Nick Cannon, Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”), Co-chairman & CEO of Warner Records Aaron Bay-Schuck,, Antoine Fuqua (Director/Producer), President of Motown Records Ethiopia Habtemariam, CEO/Chairman of Columbia Records Ron Perry, Dulé Hill (“The West Wing”) The late-Larry King, Gene Simmons, Pittsburgh Steeler Zach Banner and Jeff Ross among many others.

“The Black and Jewish communities, who have a long history of supporting and working together, are so much stronger when we stand together in the fight against hate,” said Aaron Bay-Schuck, Co-Chairman & CEO of Warner Records. “This Alliance will elevate voices in the entertainment community that can help the public to better understand the causes, manifestations, and effects of racism and antisemitism, ensuring that our industry is doing its part to be a voice for hope, unity, and healing in our country.”

While many organizations combat anti-Semitism and racism individually, the Alliance will aim to create a unified voice against both. It will host programming to highlight their common mission to fight hate and facilitate collaborative events to build solidarity between the Black and Jewish communities. They will also work to elevate voices within the entertainment community to help  the public better understand the causes, manifestations and effects of institutional racism and anti-Semitism.

The unity statement (which can be read in full here) starts by acknowledging the “subjugation and persecution” that both Black and Jewish Americans continue to face in the U.S. daily, and continues with a promise to condemn hate when they see it take place.

“As members of the entertainment community, we stand against all forms of hate, and pledge to work to bring our two communities together in solidarity, to support one another in our struggles, and to better understand each other’s plight and narratives,” the pledge reads.

The statement also referenced the partnership between Martin Luther King Jr., Rabbi Abraham Heschel, “and the many Blacks and Jews who stood together in the fight for civil rights…The Jewish community must continue to speak out against racial injustice and work to effect change, while the Black community must continue to speak out against all forms of anti-Semitism.”

Director and producer Antoine Fuqua said in a statement to the Journal that “Film and art have always been about giving those unjustly attacked and marginalized a voice. As two communities that have long been targeted simply for who they are, the Black and Jewish communities are stronger when we stand together.”

“As two communities that have long been targeted simply for who they are, the Black and Jewish communities are stronger when we stand together.” — Antoine Fuqua

Fuqua added, “It is thus incumbent on us, as members of the entertainment community, to continue to be united in the face of hateful discrimination and be a positive voice for change.”

Ben Silverman, chairman and CEO of Propagate Content said in a statement to the Journal that the Alliance offers an opportunity to celebrate the relationships between Black people and Jews around the country especially within the entertainment industry.

“The ongoing nature of systematic racism, the frightening rise of anti-Semitism and hate crimes has brought us to yet another period of crisis,” Silverman said. “We formed this Alliance to facilitate conversations and coordinate actions between Black and Jewish entertainment leaders on these issues.”

The following are the signatories of the alliance thus far:

24kGoldn: Artist
Josh Abraham: Co-CEO, Pulse Music Group
Jason Adelmen: Former VP of Strategic Partnerships at Relativity Media
Marty Adelstein: CEO, Tomorrow Studios
Michael Adler: Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman, & Clark
Nate Albert: Executive Vice President of A&R, Warner Music Group
Jason Alexander: Actor
Mitch Allan: President/Founder, Mitch Allan Inc.
Chris Atlas: EVP Urban Music & Marketing, Warner Records
Nate Auerbach: Partner, Versus Creative
Justice Baiden: Manager & Co-Founder, Love Renaissance (LVRN)
Zach Banner: NFL Player, Steelers
Eve Barlow: Music Journalist
Aaron Bay-Schuck: CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Records
Benda: DJ
Aton Ben-Horin: Global Vice President, A&R, Warner Music Group
Steven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment Group
Mayim Bialik: Actress
Joshua Binder: Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLP
Neil Blair: Partner, The Blair Partnership
Ozwald Boateng: Fashion Designer
Evan Bogart: Songwriter & Co-Founder of Boardwalk Entertainment Group.
Catherine Brewton: Vice President, Creative at Broadcast Music, Inc.
Ryan Butler: Project Manager, Recording Academy
Valeisha Butterfield Jones: Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, The Recording Academy
David Byrnes: Partner at Ziffren, Brittenham, LLP
Barbara Cane: Vice President, Worldwide Creative of BMI
Nick Cannon: Actor/Producer
Troy Carter: Founder at Q&A
Donna Caseine: EVP Creative, Reservoir Media Management
Markell Casey: Senior Director, Pulse Music Group
Ted Chervin: Founding Partner, ICM
Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress, Activist
Stanley Clarke: Musician, Composer
Jim Cooperman: Senior VP Legal and Business Affairs, Madison Square Garden Company
Raye Cosbert: Managing Director, Metropolis Music
Mike Cotler: Actor
Terry Crews: Actor
Craig David: Artist/Songwriter
Andre Davidson: Music Producer, The Monarch
Sean Davidson: Music Producer, The Monarch
Doug Davis: Partner, The Davis Firm
Suzanna de Passe: Film & TV Producer
Kosha Dillz: Artist/Songwriter
Brian Dobbins: Co-President, Artists First
David Draiman: Musician and front man of Disturbed
Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC
Bruce Eskowitz: COO, Redlight Management
Jeffrey Evans: Baseline Management
Phylicia Fant: Co-Head Urban Music, Columbia Records
Sharon Farber: Composer
Eric Feig: Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law, Inc.
Patti Felker: Partner, Felker, Toczek, Suddleson, & Abramson LLP
Ken Fermaglich: Partner, United Talent Agency
Marc Fineman: Founder and President FINE Group
Erica Forster: VP of Music Partnerships, DanceOn
Daryl Friedman: Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations Officer, The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs
Antoine Fuqua: Director/Producer
Marra Gad: Author, Producer
Nick Gale (Digital Farm Animals): Artist/Songwriter/Producer
David Gardner: Co-President, Artists First
Willie Gault: Olympic Gold Medalist
Nicole George-Middleton: Senior Vice President of Membership at ASCAP
Gary Gersh: President, Global Touring, A.E.G
Donna Gigliotti: Film Producer
Karen Glauber: President, HITS Magazine
Elon Gold: Actor, Comedian
Alistair Goldmsith: President, Chosen Music
Michael Goldwasser: Record Producer & President/Co-Founder of Easy Star Records
Shani Gonzales: Managing Director, Warner Chappell UK / Head of Global A&R
Louis Gossett Jr.: Actor
Andrew Gould: Former President of A&R, Downtown Music Publishing
Max Gousse: CEO, Founder, Artistry Records
Damien Granderson: Partner, Granderson Des Rochers, LLP
Trudy Green: Trudy Green Management/HK Management
Steve Greenberg: Founder & President, S-Curve Records
Benjy Grinberg: Founder and President, Rostrum Records
Ethiopia Habtemariam: President of Motown Records
Tiffany Haddish: Comedian, Actress
Kenny Hamilton: Partner, CSH Management Group, Inc.
Herbie Hancock: Grammy Award Winning Artist & Musician
Rani Hancock: President, Sire Records
Ronnie Harris: Partner, Harris & Trotter LLP
Jo Hart: Founder, Hart Media
David Helfant: Attorney, Law Offices of David A. Helfant
Dule Hill: Actor
D.L. Hughley: Actor, Comedian
Ari Ingel, Esq.: Director, CCFP
Randy Jackson: Manager/Producer/TV Personality
Neil Jacobson: Former President, Geffen Records, Founder of Hallwood Media
Jonathan Jakubowicz: Writer, Director
Jeriel Johnson: Executive Director Washington DC, The Recording Academy
Jaha Johnson: SVP/Head of A&R, HITCO
Al Joyner: Olympic Gold Medalist
Rachel Kaplan: Producer, Absecon Entertainment
Zach Katz: Co-Founder and CEO, Raised In Space
Larry King: TV Host
Scott Kluge: President, Tremendous Entertainment
Amanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh Agency
Blair Kohan: Partner, UTA
Rick Krim: Former Co-President, Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures
Eriq LaSalle: TV & Film Producer
Estelle Lasher: Manager, Producer
Colin Lester OBE: Founder, Chairman, JEM Music Group
David Levy: Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia, Founder of Back Nine Ventures
Ezekiel Lewis: EVP & Head of A&R, Epic Records
Rob Light: Partner/Managing Director/Head of Music, CAA
Kenny Lofton: All-Star & Gold Glove Winning Baseball Player and CEO, Filmpool Inc.
David Lonner: CEO, The David Lonner Co.
Ben Maddahi: SVP of A&R, Columbia Records
Gabriel Mann: Composer/Producer
Susan Markheim: Full Stop Mgt. – The Azoff Company
Orly Marley: President, Tuff Gong Worldwide
Harvey Mason Jr.: Interim President/CEO, Recording Academy
Nancy Matalon: VP of A&R, Spirit Music Group
Chioke “Stretch” McCoy: Founding Partner, Active Management
Cameron Mitchell: CEO of Curated By Media
Warre Moon: Hall-of-Fame NFL Quarterback
Lisa Nupoff: Music Manager, IMINMUSIC Management
Sharon Osbourne: American-British Television Personality, Manager
Guy Oseary: Manager, Founder Maverick Management
Metta World Peace: Former NBA Player
Ron Perry: CEO/ Chairman of Columbia Records
Julian Petty: EVP, Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Warner Records
Mekhi Phifer: Actor
Jeremy Piven: Actor
Lylette Pizzaro: Founder and Co- Managing Partner, Influence Media
Billy Porter: Actor
Michael Praw: Executive Director, Music, David-Brown Entertainment
David Renzer: Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group Publishing
Bourn Rich: Social Justice Street Artist, Clothing Designer
Lindy Robbins: Songwriter
Hanna Rochelle: Founder & President of Lyric Culture
Sam “Romans” Roman: Artist/Songwriter/Producer
Rick Rosen: Co-Founder & Head of Television, WME
Aaron Rosenberg: Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light, LLP
Shep Rosenman: Partner, RLG LLP
Phil Rosenthal: TV Writer, Producer, & Talent
Jeff Ross: Comedian
Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment
Autumn Rowe: Singer/Songwriter
Anthony Saleh: Partner WndrCo
Jacqueline Saturn: President, Caroline Music/Capital Music Group
Oscar Scheller: Songwriter/Producer
Paul Schindler: Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Jordan Schnur: CEO, Mimran Schur Pictures
Steve Schnur: Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts
Sam Schwartz: Co-principal of Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
Camila Seta: Marketing & Content Strategy at Rogers & Cowan
Cathy Shulman: President and CEO, Welle Entertainment
Mark Siegel: Partner, Head of Music, ICM
Ben Silverman: Chairman and co-CEO of Propagate Content
Gene Simmons: Artist/KISS
Ralph Simon: Chairman & CEO, Mobilium Global Limited
Martin Singer: Attorney, Lavely and Singer
Jeff Sosnow: EVP A&R, Warner Records
Nicky Stein: Partner, Clintons
Gary Stiffelman: Founder, GSS Law
Traci Szymanski: President, Co-Star Entertainment/Isrealife Media Group
Adam Taylor: President/CEO, APM Music
Noa Tishby: Actress, Singer
Fred Toczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP
Diane Warren: Songwriter
Joshua Washington: Artist/Songwriter
Jon Weinbach: EVP/Executive Producer, Mandalay Sports Media
Larry Wilmore: Comedian, Producer, Writer, Actor
Evan Winiker: Manager, Full Stop Management
Jeffrey Winter: Executive Director, The Film Collaborative
Won-G: Artist, Manager