Susan Sarandon looked jovial as she attended the SXSW premiere of The Gutter in Austin, Texas on Tuesday – four months after she was dropped by her talent agency over her shock remarks at a pro-Palestine rally.
The Oscar winner, 77, claimed Jewish people ‘are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim’ amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City on November 17.
Sarandon was dropped by her Hollywood representative, United Talent Agency, which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer. UTA had represented Sarandon since 2014. She later apologized for her remarks.
The star wore a white Rolling Stones tee and leather jacket, paired with black slacks and patterned trainers for her appearance.
Sarandon also posed with The Gutter co-star D’Arcy Carden on the red carpet.
Susan Sarandon looked jovial as she attended the SXSW premiere of The Gutter in Austin, Texas on Tuesday – four months after she was dropped by her talent agency over her shock remarks at a pro-Palestine rally
The Oscar winner, 77, claimed Jewish people ‘are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim’ amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City on November 17. Sarandon was dropped by United Talent Agency, which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer
She stars as Linda Curson in the bowling-themed sports comedy which tells the tale of Walt (Shameik Moore) lands work at bowling alley AlleyCatz.
He’s pressured to embrace his bowling talent, sparking backlash from detractors seeking to undermine his sudden pro success.
The Gutter also stars Adam Brody and Jay Ellis.
Sarandon’s remarks at a November 17 pro-Palestine rally in New York City sparked widespread outrage, with critics saying they ignored the centuries of prejudice and antisemitism the Jewish community has endured.
She later said she said her remarks last month were ‘a terrible mistake’.
‘This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true,’ she said.
She said the rally was ‘to highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire,’ and said she had not planned to speak at the gathering, but was invited to address the crowd.
‘Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, ‘are getting a taste of what it is like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.”
The star wore a white Rolling Stones tee and leather jacket, paired with black slacks and patterned trainers for her appearance
Sarandon also posed with The Gutter co-star D’Arcy Carden on the red carpet
Sarandon said her words ignored ‘centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe’ as well as recent atrocities, such as the Tree of Life synagogue attack, which saw 11 murdered in October 2018 in Pittsburgh – the worst attack on the Jewish community in modern US history.
Sarandon added: ‘I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment.
‘It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.’
Since the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, which killed 1,200 Israelis, and the reprisals in Gaza, which have killed 15,000 Palestinians, Sarandon has attended several rallies in New York.
The veteran left-wing activist has been filmed joining in the chant ‘from the river to the sea,’ a battle cry used by pro-Palestinian activists and Hamas alike that many view as an anti-Semitic call for the destruction of Israel.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show star has also retweeted posts on X celebrating Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, who has been dogged for years with allegations of anti-Semitism.
The pair posed up on the red carpet at the festival
Susan was seen chatting as she arrived at the event
Sarandon’s sighting at SXSW comes as artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Kneecap have withdrawn from the festival over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor, citing US support for Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Ireland’s culture minister has defended attending SXSW in the wake of the backlash.
Catherine Martin said she would use her trip to coincide with St Patrick’s Day to ‘make clear her revulsion at the devastation that has been unleashed on Gaza.’
She outlined that she has the utmost respect for their freedom of expression as artists and reassured them that she will use every opportunity available to her to make clear her revulsion at the devastation that has been unleashed on Gaza.
‘This includes the St Patrick’s Day consular reception in Austin tonight where she will outline to attendees the Irish Government’s calls for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and a massive and sustained increase in humanitarian aid, food and medicine to the people of Gaza.’
The statement from the department added that the events aim to promote Ireland’s creative industries and film industry, and are supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Screen Ireland, IDA, Tourism Ireland and Music from Ireland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement to PA: ‘South by Southwest is a combination of festivals and events that includes film, interactive media, music and conferences on a range of subjects, and takes place in March each year in Austin, Texas.
Sarandon’s sighting at SXSW comes as artists including Soda Blonde (pictured), Mick Flannery and Kneecap have withdrawn from the festival over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor, citing US support for Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Ireland’s culture minister Catherine Martin has defended her trip to attend the SXSW festival in Texas
‘In 2023, over 345,000 people from 127 countries attended.
‘Ireland House at SXSW – running from 11-15 March – is providing an opportunity for a wide range of Irish companies, agencies and artists to showcase the best of Irish creativity in the fields of science, innovation, technology, culture and the arts.
‘The department is aware that a number of artists due to participate in Music From Ireland at SXSW have withdrawn from the event. The department supports artists’ rights to freedom of expression and does not advise artists in relation to choices they make on where to perform.
‘In relation to the war in Gaza, Ireland has strongly argued for an upholding of international humanitarian law, a humanitarian ceasefire and sustained humanitarian assistance.’
