Paramount Pictures has rejected calls for a sweeping boycott of Israeli film institutions, standing apart from thousands of Hollywood figures who pledged support for the campaign. The boycott, launched by the activist group Film Workers for Palestine, has been signed by nearly 4,000 entertainment professionals, including high-profile actors Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix.
The pledge commits signatories to refuse collaboration with Israeli film festivals, production companies, broadcasters, and other institutions accused by the group of supporting “genocide and apartheid” in Gaza. When first introduced, the campaign drew about 1,200 signatures. In the months since, that number has tripled, revealing a deepening divide in the entertainment industry over the Israel–Hamas conflict.
Paramount, however, broke ranks with the movement. In a public statement, the company affirmed its opposition to the boycott, emphasizing the importance of creative freedom and cross-cultural exchange. Melissa Zukerman, communications officer for Paramount, said the studio rejects “silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality,” making clear that the company views cultural boycotts as an attack on free expression.
By rejecting the pledge, Paramount becomes the first major Hollywood studio to take a stand against this specific campaign. The company’s stance underscores its commitment to artistic engagement rather than exclusion, even amid growing political pressure from activist groups within the film industry.
The boycott highlights a widening rift in Hollywood as entertainers take increasingly public positions on geopolitical conflicts. Critics argue that such boycotts unfairly target artists based on nationality rather than their individual actions or beliefs, blurring the line between political protest and cultural discrimination.
