October 23, 2023 at 5:41 p.m
Hollywood heavyweights including Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger, MRC Studio co-CEO Modi Wiczyk, actor Chris Pine and conservative journalist Bari Weiss met last week at the home of hedge fund billionaire Dan Loeb to discuss anti-Semitism amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, TheWrap reported.
The group listened to a discussion between Tablet magazine founder Alana Newhouse and Free Press founder Bari Weiss, moderated by producer Matti Leshem, according to several people in attendance.
The theme was anti-Semitism and shared concerns about growing anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments on college campuses and beyond. According to one participant, the discussion was “substantive.”
The event was planned before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, but took on greater significance after the brutal massacre of 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians.
Other attendees included “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson and playwright David Mamet, an outspoken conservative. The news was first reported in the Wall Street Journal.
The meeting took place at the Bel Air residence of Loeb, whose investment portfolio spans both the entertainment industry and outside of it. According to a filing on September 30, 2022, Loeb owned 6.35 million Disney shares, worth nearly half a billion dollars ($527.69 million) based on Monday’s share price.
News of the event comes as entertainment industry leaders continue to speak out about the violent attacks by the terrorist group Hamas and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Concerns about anti-Semitic incidents around the globe continue to worry some power brokers in Hollywood.
Wiczyk’s MRC was among the first Hollywood companies to condemn the October 7 attack.
Source : www.thewrap.com