Famous people shouldn't be on social media, examples 4,553 and 4,554
Two more celebrities create PR disasters for themselves on Instagram.
Honestly, maybe none of us should be on social media. As Justine Sacco found out the hard way, the wrong Tweet or Instagram post can destroy your life even if no one has ever heard of you.
When you're already a well-known celebrity, though, the stakes are that much higher. If you have a public image to destroy, I recommend you set up an anonymous account to say what you really think and let your PR people handle anything that goes out in your own name.
Two prominent people are finding out the hard way this weekend…
First, thanks to Jamie Foxx, we must once again reset the “days since a celebrity said or posted something possibly antisemitic on social media” sign to zero:
Actor and musician Jamie Foxx wrote a post on Instagram on Friday saying "They killed this dude name Jesus... What do you think they'll do to you???!" followed by the hashtags #fakefriends #fakelove.
The actor later deleted the post, but not before being accused of antisemitism on social media, as much of the antisemitism aimed at Jews has been the result of the belief that Jews are responsible for Jesus's death as the New Testament tells that Jesus was caught and crucified after being betrayed by Judas.
Fellow actress Jennifer Aniston, who liked Foxx's post before it was deleted, later wrote in an Instagram story that "This really makes me sick. 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 feeds - I do NOT support any form of antisemitism. And I truly don't tolerate HATE of any kind. PERIOD."
It’s sadly not uncommon for well-known people to make antisemitic comments (or at least comments that stop just short of the line), but in my experience they’re usually people for whom I didn’t have much respect to begin with: pretentious drunken douchebag Roger Waters, David Icke acolyte Alice Walker, flat-earther Kyrie Irving.
But Jamie Foxx, a prodigiously talented actor and singer? That’s just depressing.
At least it would be, if he was actually accusing the Jewish people of deicide. In this case (and keeping in mind that I am not Jewish) I think there’s some reasonable doubt:
"I want to apologize to the Jewish community and everyone who was offended by my post," he wrote on Instagram. "I now know my choice of words has caused offense and I'm sorry. That was never my intent."
Foxx went on the claim that by "they" he was referring to a "fake friend" who had betrayed him.
"I only have love in my heart for everyone. I love and support the Jewish community. My deepest apologies to anyone who was offended."
Responses to the post on social media compared Foxx to Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) who made multiple antisemitic statements last year including saying that Jews should forgive Hitler and repeating antisemitic conspiracy theories.
The term “Judas,” in reference to the disciple who betrayed Christ, is often used to refer to a once-trusted friend or colleague who metaphorically stabs you in back. In context it’s usually clear that the Jews’ collective “guilt” has nothing to do with it.
I’m not aware of Foxx making antisemitic statements in the past (though he did work with Kanye on “Gold Digger”) so this can probably be chalked up to a poor choice of words. But it does illustrate how you really can’t put a foot wrong on social media, especially when your follower count is in the seven figures.
And then there's NASCAR driver Noah Gragson, already struggling in his rookie season in the top-tier Cup Series, now suspended for “liking” an insensitive Instagram meme about George Floyd:
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