Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has joined Paramount in rejecting a letter co-signed by many known figures in Hollywood that would boycott Israeli film institutions, according to Thursday reports by Deadline and Variety.
“Warner Bros. Discovery is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for its employees, collaborators, and other stakeholders,” a spokesperson for the conglomerate told both news sources. "Our policies prohibit discrimination of any kind, including discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, or ancestry. We believe a boycott of Israeli film institutions violates our policies."
The spokesperson continues to say that WBD endorses individuals to express their views, but that WBD "will continue to align [their] business practices with the requirements of [their] policies and the law.”
Paramount said last month that it condemned a pledge that was signed by thousands of workers in the Hollywood film industry that they would not work with Israeli film institutions that they see as "being complicit" in the Gaza war.
"We do not agree with recent efforts to boycott Israeli filmmakers. Silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace," Paramount said. The film production company is also distributing Red Alert, a series covering the October 7 attacks, on its streaming service Paramount+.
Who signed the pledge to boycott Israeli institutions?
As for those who who signed the initial pledge boycotting Israeli film institutions, signatories include Ayo Edebiri, Olivia Coleman, Emma Stone, Tilda Swinton, Gael Garcia Bernal, Javier Bardem, Yorgos Lanthimos, Riz Ahmed, Adam McKay, Rebecca Hall, Joaquin Phoenix, Lily Gladstone, Jonathan Glazer, Guy Pearce, Bowen Yang, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Eric Andre, Elliot Page, Emma D'Arcy, Rooney Mara, Aimee Lou Wood, Ava DuVernay, Ilana Glazer, Hannah Einbinder, Emma Seligman, Mark Ruffalo, Wallace Shawn, and Cynthia Nixon.
The pledge accused Israeli film institutions of being “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”
In opposition, more than 1,200 entertainment leaders signed an open letter rebuking the efforts of their colleagues to silence Israeli filmmakers and studios.
Those who signed include Liev Schreiber, Mayim Bialik, Gene Simmons, Debra Messing, Lawrence Bender, Gideon Raff, Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Rapaport, David Draiman, Matisyahu, and Haim Saban.
Reuters, Andrew Lapin/JTA, and Hannah Brown contributed to this report.