Update, Tuesday June 18: In a post Tuesday afternoon, Cusack apologized for the tweet.
“I would like to express my sincere apologies for the insensitive and offensive graphic that I regrettably retweeted. Social media has always been a platform on which I have engaged to express my thoughts and opinions, however, the material that I shared does not now, nor has it ever, represented my views in any shape or form. I have always believed that all people should live in equality, freedom and peace and I am deeply saddened that an account with which I am associated could perpetuate anything less.
Original post below:
Actor John Cusack had fans and detractors alike upset Monday after posting, then deleting a tweet featuring an anti-Semitic cartoon.
On Monday afternoon, the “High Fidelity” star tweeted “follow the money” along with a cartoon featuring a giant arm with a Star of David on a jacket sleeve, pushing down on top of a crowd of people. The cartoon features a quote, “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” The quote was wrongly attributed to Voltaire, but is actually based on the writings of white supremacist Kevin Alfred Strom.
The tweet was met with immediate condemnation from across the political spectrum. Cusack at first defended it, saying his intent was to be critical of Israel’s policies against Palestinians. He later deleted it, explaining that “a bot got me. I thought I was endorsing a pro Palestinian justice retweet — of an earlier post — it came I think from a different source — Shouldn’t Have retweeted.”
Cusack continued to discuss the tweet in context of Palestinian rights, but added “it’s clear that even if it was Israel’s flag & even if you don’t have antisemitic bone in your body, it is still an antisemitic cartoon. Because it deploys anti jewish stereotypes in its attacks on Israel, even if those critiques about state violence are legit.”
Representatives for Cusack didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.
https://twitter.com/johncusack/status/1140760112023388160
1. it's clear that even if it was Israel's flag & even if you don't have antisemitic bone in your body, it is still an antisemitic cartoon. Because it deploys anti jewish stereotypes in its attacks on Israel, even if those critiques about state violence are legit
I mistakenly— John Cusack (@johncusack) June 18, 2019