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Actress Jenna Ortega, best known for her role in Netflix’s Wednesday, is facing criticism for a recent Instagram post in which she expressed concern for civilians in Iran and the Gaza Strip, but made no mention of Israeli victims amid the escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
In an Instagram Story posted on Saturday, June 15, the 22-year-old star wrote that the world is “crying” over various global tragedies, including immigration raids in Los Angeles and the wars involving Israel, Iran, and Hamas. “Innocent civilians in Iran are caught in the middle of warfare. Palestinian cries are still being buried in every day [sic] media. My thoughts are heavy, my heart follows,” she wrote to her 37.2 million followers.
She encouraged her audience to “never stop paying attention,” urging them to “listen to one another & love, but be angry too. Educate yourself as best you can. To say this doesn’t concern you, or that it isn’t your problem, is a privilege under abuse.” The post has since been saved to her Instagram highlights. Ortega’s statement came one day after Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian military sites, following rising tensions in the region. Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war, which began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023—continues to affect thousands of civilians.
The post drew sharp condemnation from Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), a nonprofit pro-Israel organization made up of entertainment industry professionals. In a public statement, CCFP criticized Ortega for “erasing” the suffering of Israeli civilians. “If you truly care about innocent lives, all lives, then don’t erase Israeli civilians,” said the group. “You wrote about being heartbroken over civilians in Iran and Palestinians being buried by the media. But where is your heartbreak for the Israeli families being slaughtered by Iran’s missiles and terror proxies?” The statement called attention to Israeli children sleeping in bomb shelters and families impacted by ongoing violence. CCFP accused Ortega of speaking “in vague moral poetry” and urged her to “educate [herself] fully” and condemn all forms of violence, including that committed by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
“Shame on you,” the group concluded. Ortega’s post follows a pattern of outspoken support for Palestinians, which she has shared multiple times since the Israel-Hamas war began. Her Scream co-star Melissa Barrera was previously removed from the franchise over similar posts deemed anti-Israel by producers. The backlash against Ortega adds to the growing tensions within Hollywood, where celebrities’ public stances on the Israel-Palestine conflict are being increasingly scrutinized and challenged from all sides. As of now, Ortega has not issued a follow-up or clarification.
