Actor Jamie Foxx issued an apology on August 5 for a social media post that stated in part that “they killed this dude named Jesus.”
The full post had read: “They killed this dude name Jesus…what do you think they’ll do to you???! #fakefriends #fakelove.” Foxx then faced accusations that the post was antisemitic, as critics argued that the “they” referred to Jews, as the allegations that the Jews killed Jesus is a blood libel. In his apology, Foxx said that the “they” was referring to “a fake friend” that betrayed him. “I only have love in my heart for everyone,” he said. “I love and support the Jewish community. My deepest apologies to anyone who was offended.”
— Jamie Foxx (@iamjamiefoxx) August 5, 2023
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “We welcome @iamjamiefoxx’s apology and thank him for his clarification. Furthermore, we wish him well as he recovers from his prior hospitalization.” He added in a follow-up tweet: “Truly appreciate @iamjamiefoxx
reaching out and confirming privately what he also said publicly. His message of love for the Jewish community is crucial in this time of rising hate. We are stronger together.”
We welcome @iamjamiefoxx's apology and thank him for his clarification. Furthermore, we wish him well as he recovers from his prior hospitalization. https://t.co/ORj8Rrwj2D
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) August 6, 2023
Truly appreciate @iamjamiefoxx reaching out and confirming privately what he also said publicly. His message of love for the Jewish community is crucial in this time of rising hate. We are stronger together. https://t.co/91idgV9KPf
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) August 6, 2023
The American Jewish Committee similarly tweeted, “The deicide charge, falsely implicating Jews in Jesus’ death, has fueled antisemitic hatred for centuries. Jamie Foxx did the right thing by apologizing for this statement. It is important for everyone, including Foxx’s millions of followers, to know why his post was harmful.”
The deicide charge, falsely implicating Jews in Jesus' death, has fueled antisemitic hatred for centuries.
Jamie Foxx did the right thing by apologizing for this statement. It is important for everyone, including Foxx’s millions of followers, to know why his post was harmful.… https://t.co/gqrAu0TV60
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) August 6, 2023
Stop Antisemitism tweeted, “Words matter. And those with massive audiences on social media have a responsibility to be careful with their content to not incite more hatred than already exists.”
Actor Jaime Foxx posts an apology regarding yesterday’s controversial Jesus post.
Words matter. And those with massive audiences on social media have a responsibility to be careful with their content to not incite more hatred than already exists. pic.twitter.com/QdOYdLqj4s
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) August 5, 2023
Actress Jennifer Aniston also came under fire after A Wider Frame, a Jewish world newsletter, shared a screenshot that appeared to show Aniston liking Foxx’s “they killed this dude named Jesus” post. In a since-expired Instagram Story, Aniston denied liking the post. “This really makes me sick,” the “Friends” star said. “I did not ‘like’ this post on purpose or by accident. And more importantly, I want to be clear to my friends and anyone hurt by this showing up in their feed − I do NOT support any type of antisemitism. And I truly don’t tolerate HATE of any kind. Period.”
USA Today noted that one social media user argued that Foxx was using “a common black colloquialism to describe betrayal by those close to you. There’s not a single black person thinking about disrespecting an ethnic group or religion when we use that term. It’s about the behavior of backstabbers like Judas.”
The New York Post’s Page Six quote another social media user who argued, “Jamie Foxx could be talking about friends who betrayed him, but the accusation of deicide is one that has led to the torment and persecution of Jews for centuries and this is why this comment is dangerous. Some of the comments on it have been repugnant to say the least.”
