Susan Sarandon apologizes for saying Jews are "getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim" in U.S.

Oscar winner Susan Sarandon says she feels “deep regret” after “hurting people” with her Nov. 17 comment that said Jews were finally getting a taste of “getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.”

Sarandon made the antisemitic and anti-American comment at a Nov. 17 New York City pro-Palestine rally that was in response to the Israeli military action in Gaza that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” star did an extensive mea culpa in a black and white Instagram post on Friday, admitting that, “This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true.”

To assert her sincerity, the 77 year old actress, listed several acts in which Jews had been subjected to violence including “the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh” and “genocide in Europe,” an apparent reference to the World War II era Nazi Holocaust.

“I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment,” the “Bull Durham” star added. “It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.”

She said she attended the NYC rally to illuminate the “urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire,” but “had not planned” to say anything.

When she did finally speak up, she explained she was only trying to “communicate [her] concern for an increase in hate crimes.”

Sarandon finished her post by pledging to try and build bridges instead of burning them.

“I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree.”

Sarandon turned off her comments section under the Instagram post, but many people reacted to her apology on other social media platforms. Some said they did not believe it was genuine.

Muslim American education activist and Pakistani refugee Asra Nomani criticized Sarandon on X for her comments at the rally, writing, “Please don’t minimize the experience of Jewish Americans by sanitizing the hell that it is for Muslims living in Muslim countries and vilifying America for the life — and freedoms — she offers Muslims like my family.”

Nomani then suggested Sarandon get a taste of the reality that Muslim women experience in actual Muslim countries to compare it to the freedoms they have in democracies such as Israel and the United States.

“Go, live like a Muslim woman in a Muslim country. You will come back to America and kiss the land beneath your feet,” she wrote.

Sarandon’s words have also raised concerns in Los Angeles. She was nixed as a client by UTA, a major Hollywood agency, according to a Dec. 2 report published by Fox News Digital.

In November, Nomani aligned herself with Jewish people and said she stood beside them.

“What I say to everyone is Jewish people must stand strong, they must be unapologetic in their identities and all people must stand with them without any shame,” Nomani said.