Tom Cruise Stands Firm: Supporting Agent Amid Controversy Over Pro-Palestine Posts
Dakhil's Instagram posts discussing the Israel-Hamas conflict sparked conversations in Hollywood about the limits of expression, especially regarding sensitive geopolitical matters.
Transcript
00:00 Tom Cruise recently made headlines for standing up in support of his agent, Maha Dhakhil,
00:05 amidst a tense situation at the talent agency CAA. Dhakhil, a prominent figure at CAA, faced
00:12 consequences internally after sharing Instagram stories expressing solidarity with Palestine.
00:18 Her reposted content received backlash within the agency and the broader industry, prompting
00:23 her to step away from leadership roles within CAA's motion pictures department.
00:28 Despite this, Cruise, a significant client of hers, went out of his way to meet Dhakhil
00:33 at her CAA office, showcasing unwavering support during the challenging time.
00:39 This uncommon gesture underlined Cruise's solidarity with Dhakhil amid the controversy
00:43 surrounding her posts, as reported by Online Portal.
00:48 Dhakhil's Instagram post touching on the Israel-Hamas conflict triggered discussions in Hollywood
00:54 about the boundaries of expression, particularly on sensitive geopolitical issues.
01:00 Dhakhil faced internal repercussions after posting messages, including one stating, "What's
01:06 more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening?"
01:11 She resigned from the agency's board following another repost that read, "In part, you're
01:17 currently learning who supports genocide," along with her added caption.
01:23 In response to the backlash, Dhakhil deleted both images and issued a public apology, "I
01:29 made a mistake with reposts in my Instagram story, which used hurtful language. Like many,
01:35 I have been reeling with heartbreak. I pride myself on standing for humanity and peace,"
01:41 Maha stated in an Online Portal interview.
01:46 Even Suzanne Sarandon got dropped by the Hollywood talent agency UTA because she spoke at a rally
01:52 supporting Palestine during the Israel-Hamas war. This was confirmed by a spokesperson
01:57 for the agency in an Online Portal.
02:00 [music]