Guy Pearce has built up a strong Hollywood career since his years spent on the Australian soap Neighbours, starring in movies like Memento, The Hurt Locker, L.A. Confidential, and playing the villain in Marvel’s Iron Man 3. Recently, though, the actor has been getting a lot of attention for something other than his movies after a series of antisemitic posts were shared in an article by Jewish News.
According to the site, Pearce allegedly commented on a post, saying, “I’ve never been so disgusted by a group of people in my life as I am by Israelis. Everyday I witness their utter disregard & disdain for Palestinian life. It is shameful & sets humanity further backwards with every vile act like this.” Another claim suggested that the actor had also been sharing far-right videos and comments linked to conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirk being paid to support Israel. Following these posts, Pearce issued the following apology to Jewish News:
“It has been brought to my attention that, in my support of Palestine, I have inadvertently re-posted articles, and/or statements, that have contained misinformation and falsehoods. I am aware how sharing inaccurate content can cause confusion and distress; for this I am deeply sorry. I will certainly endeavour to be more diligent in future to verify anything I share online.”
After being slammed in a statement by a spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism, which claimed that the actor had several times amplified material that “pushes toxic antisemitic conspiracies,” Pearce took to his own X account to share a second message, saying he was “stepping back” from social media to “prevent any further hurt.” His full post reads:
“Earlier this week, I issued an apology for sharing misleading and inaccurate posts commentary on social media. I meant every word of that apology but I recognise that meaningful action must accompany an apology. To prevent any further hurt, confusion or damage to others, I will be stepping back from social media for the time being.”
The single post is now all that remains on Pearce’s account after he deleted all previous interactions.
For many years now, social media has been a tightrope walk for celebrities who use their own accounts and share personal opinions and thoughts there. The rising tension over the Gaza War has seen many high profile stars being labeled for their personal beliefs, or for the support they have shown for one side of the war or the other.
Melissa Barrera was fired from her role in the Scream franchise over posts made in 2024, which led to a chain reaction of departures, including fellow actor Jenna Ortega, that almost derailed the seventh installment of the horror franchise entirely. This year, Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler found themselves being subjected to criticism for their opinions on the same subject, something that many have cited as one of the reasons Disney’s Snow White remake crashed at the box office. Now it looks like Pearce has been the latest to find himself in the court of public opinion, and has chosen that severing the root of the problem – the constant battleground that social media has become – is the best way to avoid any future controversy.
- Birthname
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Guy Edward Pearce
- Birthdate
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October 5, 1967
- Birthplace
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Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK