Susan Sarandon says she was blacklisted over Gaza ceasefire calls
Analysis Summary
This article wants you to believe that speaking out with pro-Palestinian views in Hollywood will get you blacklisted, using Susan Sarandon's experience as proof. It relies heavily on her direct quotes and the image of authority figures like her to support its claims, while also painting a picture of an "us vs. them" situation between activists and the industry. The piece subtly encourages readers to see those who are 'blacklisted' for their views as courageous, using loaded language to make its point.
FATE Analysis
Four dimensions of psychological manipulation: how content captures Focus, exploits Authority, triggers Tribal identity, and engineers Emotion.
Focus signals
"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!"
This is a standard journalistic technique to highlight a new feature, not a manipulation, but it does serve to capture immediate attention for the article.
Authority signals
"Actress Susan Sarandon said that she has been blacklisted in Hollywood due to her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza."
The article's core subject is a celebrity's claim, leveraging her known public persona to draw interest to the topic. While not an endorsement *of* the article's claims, it uses her 'star power'.
"Sarandon, who was dropped by the United Talent Agency in November 2023 following controversial remarks about the Israel-Gaza war, is an Academy Award winner and BAFTA recipient."
Highlighting Sarandon's prestigious awards strengthens her perceived importance and the weight of her claims about being blacklisted.
Tribe signals
""There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.""
Sarandon's original controversial statement, quoted here, directly frames groups against each other by drawing parallels in victimhood experiences.
"Sarandon also praised the leaders of Spain and Ireland for what she described as their support for Gaza. ... When you turn on the TV and you see how strong Spain is and how clear that you are morally about these issues, it makes you feel less alone, and it makes you feel that there is hope because of you all and the fact that you just don’t hear that on television in the United States. You don’t know that that exists."
Sarandon's statements, quoted by the article, create a 'us vs. them' dynamic comparing US media/leadership negatively against European countries, implying a moral clarity lacking domestically. This aligns those who agree with Sarandon into a 'tribe' against a perceived oppressive norm.
Emotion signals
"Actress Susan Sarandon said that she has been blacklisted in Hollywood due to her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza."
The term 'blacklisted' carries strong negative connotations, implying injustice and unfair treatment, which can evoke outrage or sympathy from the reader depending on their perspective.
"When someone stands up so strongly, when a nation stands up, and I include Ireland in this too, I can’t tell you how very important it is to those of us who are trying in an atmosphere that is very difficult when we see that kind of strength and moral clarity, how much it means to us."
Sarandon's quoted remarks, while reporting her feelings, frame the actions of certain nations as possessing 'moral clarity' and 'strength', which can evoke a sense of moral superiority or validation for readers who agree with her stance.
Narrative Analysis (PCP)
How the article reshapes thinking: Perception (what beliefs are targeted), Context (what information is shifted or omitted), and Permission (what behavior is being encouraged).
The article aims to instill the belief that openly expressing certain political views, specifically pro-Palestinian sentiments or calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, can lead to severe career repercussions and 'blacklisting' in Hollywood. This is achieved by presenting Sarandon's personal account as a direct consequence of her activism.
The article shifts the context from an individual's speech having professional consequences based on public and industry reactions (which can be complex and multi-faceted) to a narrative of systemic censorship and repression against specific political viewpoints within Hollywood. This makes Sarandon's narrative of victimhood feel more legitimate.
The article omits the full context of Sarandon's 'controversial remarks' regarding Jewish people 'getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim,' beyond her apology. While her apology is mentioned, the full public backlash or specific reasons given by her former agency for dropping her are not detailed, which would provide more nuance on whether it was solely the 'ceasefire call' or the broader phrasing of her statements that led to professional issues.
The article subtly encourages readers to view individuals who speak out on controversial issues, particularly those perceived as being 'blacklisted' for their views, as courageous and morally aligned. It seeks to legitimize the feeling of being an outsider in a 'repressive' system and to affirm those who support similar views, especially if they are feeling isolated.
SMRP Pattern
Four manipulation maintenance tactics: Socializing the idea as normal, Minimizing concerns, Rationalizing with logic, and Projecting blame.
"Sarandon implies, and the article supports the idea, that 'Hollywood' or 'the system' is responsible for her professional difficulties due to her political stance, rather than acknowledging that her specific choice of controversial words or the general public/industry reaction to them might be a contributing factor. The blame for her reduced work opportunities is placed squarely on a 'blacklist' orchestrated by others, effectively deflecting responsibility for her career trajectory being impacted by her own statements."
Red Flags
High-severity indicators: silencing dissent, coordinated messaging, or weaponizing identity to shut down debate.
""In a place where you feel repression and censorship, to see Spain and to see the president and what he says and the support that he’s giving about Gaza... it makes you feel less alone, and it makes you feel that there is hope because of you all and the fact that you just don’t hear that on television in the United States. You don’t know that that exists""
""It makes you feel less alone, and it makes you feel that there is hope because of you all and the fact that you just don’t hear that on television in the United States. You don’t know that that exists." This implies that those who share these views are part of a morally superior, 'hopeful' group, contrasting with those who do not hear or express such views."
Techniques Found(10)
Specific propaganda techniques identified using the SemEval-2023 academic taxonomy of 23 techniques across 6 categories.
"said that she has been blacklisted in Hollywood due to her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza"
The term 'blacklisted' is emotionally charged and implies an unjust and severe professional ban, which can elicit sympathy from readers.
"It became impossible for me to even be on television"
This statement uses hyperbolic language ('impossible') to magnify the impact of her situation, suggesting an absolute inability to work rather than facing difficulties or reduced opportunities.
"controversial remarks about the Israel-Gaza war"
The word 'controversial' subtly frames Sarandon's remarks in a negative light, implying they were divisive or offensive without explicitly stating why, which can influence reader perception.
"At an anti-Israel rally in New York City’s Union Square on Nov. 17, 2023"
Labeling the gathering as an 'anti-Israel rally' uses emotionally charged language to align the event with potential negative connotations some readers might have towards 'anti-Israel' sentiment.
"are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence."
This statement uses emotionally charged language ('taste of what it feels like', 'subjected to violence') to evoke strong feelings of empathy for one group while potentially creating resentment or misunderstanding towards another.
"Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes"
The phrase 'increase in hate crimes' is emotionally charged and designed to evoke concern and fear, framing her original remarks as an attempt to address a serious societal issue.
"as the targets of rising antisemitic hate"
The phrase 'rising antisemitic hate' is emotionally charged, designed to evoke fear and concern over prejudice.
"This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true."
The use of 'terrible mistake' and 'strangers to persecution' and 'opposite is true' serves to strongly emphasize the gravity of her misstatement and the historical context, potentially to reframe her intentions in a more positive light during her apology.
"When you turn on the TV and you see how strong Spain is and how clear that you are morally about these issues, it makes you feel less alone, and it makes you feel that there is hope because of you all"
This appeals to values such as moral clarity, hope, and not feeling alone, attempting to justify her admiration for Spain and Ireland by aligning their actions with these positive sentiments.
"how much it means to us."
This statement appeals to shared values of support, solidarity, and the feeling of not being alone in a difficult 'atmosphere', aiming to justify the importance of international support.