Guy Pearce has issued a statement after reportedly sharing antisemitic content on social media.
The Australian actor, 58, who first achieved international fame in 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, apologised this week after his posts contained ‘misinformation and falsehoods’.
He has since shared a further message, informing his followers of his plans to ensure the apology is ‘meaningful’.
Pearce’s initial posts expressed support for Palestine but featured far-right white nationalist Nick Fuentes. The 27-year-old political activist hosts the America First livestream, which promotes Christian nationalism, white supremacy, anti-LGBTQ+ views, and Holocaust denial.
As per Jewish News, the Memento star also shared posts claiming the ‘top three pornography companies are owned by Jewish people’, blamed Israel for the 9/11 terror attacks, and accused Israeli officials of orchestrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Furthermore, it’s reported that, earlier this month, Pearce shared posts from the Instagram account @corefitnessbynaz2, which read: ‘Remember, when Zionists tell you Islam will destroy America… While several major Las Vegas casinos/hotels that have caused gambling addictions, debt and prostitution were created and owned by Jewish Zionists… The Zionists (not Jews) want you to fear the people who stand against the corruption they are creating.’
When contacted by Jewish News, the King’s Speech actor offered the following apology on November 27: ‘It has been brought to my attention that, in my support of Palestine, I have inadvertently re-posted articles, and/or statements, that have contained misinformation and falsehoods.
‘I am aware how sharing inaccurate content can cause confusion and distress; for this, I am deeply sorry.’
He concluded: ‘I will certainly endeavour to be more diligent in future to verify anything I share online.’
Then, on November 29, Pearce took to his own X account, where he boasts 101,000 followers, and added another comment.
A screenshot posted from his Notes read: ‘Earlier this week, I issued an apology for sharing misleading and inaccurate posts and commentary on social media.
‘I meant every word of that apology but recognise that meaningful action must accompany any apology.’
He continued: ‘To prevent any further hurt, confusion or damage to others, I will be stepping back from social media for the time being.’
Pearce has shown public support for the Palestinian people on several occasions amid the Gaza war, including when he wore a white dove ‘Free Palestine’ pin badge to this year’s Oscars, where he was nominated for his part in The Brutalist.
Additionally, he wore a Palestine flag badge to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. However, controversy ensued when Vanity Fair France shared edited photos of Pearce, the flag noticeably missing from his black suit jacket.
After it was called out on social media and the publication was accused of censorship, they responded to a tweet showing the original picture side-by-side with the doctored one.
VF France wrote: ‘Good evening. We mistakenly published a modified version of this photo on the site. The original version had been posted on Instagram the same day. We have corrected our error, and we offer our sincere apologies.’
Pearce himself then told CNN in a statement via email: ‘As the Palestinian people are already suffering great trauma and loss due to the vengeful regime of Netanyahu it is most unfortunate that a reputable publication like VF attempts to eliminate support that I or anyone chooses to offer.’
‘Personally, I think it is a disgrace,’ he said.
Following the latest uproar involving Pearce’s online posts, a spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism told Jewish News that, while his apology seems promising, they are interested to see whether his behaviour changes.
‘Guy Pearce has a long track record of amplifying material that pushes some of the most toxic antisemitic conspiracies,’ they began. ‘His posts have not been harmless activism; they have spread ideas that sit firmly within the canon of classic antisemitism.
‘His apology is a step in the right direction, and it is right that he acknowledges the damage that misinformation can cause. But apologies are easy to give after the fact.
‘What matters now is whether he genuinely changes his behaviour and stops promoting this kind of content.’
The spokesperson added that ‘agents, studios, and commercial partners will be watching closely’ and ‘they must think very carefully about the figures they endorse, and whether Guy Pearce’s actions—not just his latest words—demonstrate that he is a responsible person to be associated with.’
This isn’t the first time Pearce has been involved in a social media row, having apologised in 2023 after he pondered in a since-deleted tweet: ‘A question—if the only people allowed to play trans characters are trans folk, then are we also suggesting the only people trans folk can play are trans characters?
‘Surely that will limit your career as an actor? Isn’t the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside your own world?’
He subsequently admitted it was ‘not a good idea’ to raise the conversation involving an ‘already-harassed minority’.
‘For that, I apologise, enormously,’ he penned. ‘I acknowledge it has only stirred up and inflamed attitudes and made us all dig our heels in. I take responsibility for that and again, apologise for starting a fire.’
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