Acclaimed actor Guy Pearce has announced his departure from social media platforms following a significant backlash from fans over a series of political posts he made concerning the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Apology for Misinformation
The 58-year-old star of Memento publicly admitted that his posts contained inaccurate information about Israel and the ongoing war. In a statement given to Jewish News, Pearce expressed his regret, saying, "It has been brought to my attention that, in my support of Palestine, I have inadvertently re-posted articles, and/or statements, that contained misinformation and falsehoods."
He went on to acknowledge the impact of his actions, stating, "I am aware how sharing inaccurate content can cause confusion and distress; for this I am deeply sorry. I will certainly endeavour to be more diligent in future to verify anything I share online."
Controversial Content and Fan Reaction
The controversial content that sparked the uproar included several posts containing unverified claims. Among the material Pearce shared were:
- Allegations blaming Israel for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- Content featuring far-right commentator Nick Fuentes.
- Accusations of Israeli involvement in the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
- Claims that the 'top three pornography companies are owned by Jewish people'.
Furthermore, the actor was criticised for a separate post from earlier in November, in which he wrote, "I've never been so disgusted by a group of people in my life as I am by Israelis," adding that he witnessed their "utter disregard and disdain for Palestinian life." This post has since been deleted.
Stepping Back from the Spotlight
After receiving immense criticism, Pearce removed the contentious content from his X page and issued a follow-up statement. "Earlier this week, I issued an apology for sharing misleading and inaccurate posts and commentary on social media," he wrote.
Emphasising that his apology was sincere but required action, he continued, "I meant every word of that apology but I recognise that meaningful action must accompany any apology. To prevent any further hurt, confusion or damage to others, I will be stepping back from social media for the time being."
This is not the first instance where Pearce's political views have drawn public attention. In February, he attended the AACTA Awards alone, confirming his split from long-term girlfriend Carice van Houten. At the event, he made a bold sartorial statement by wearing a white brooch featuring a bird of 'peace' and the words 'Free Palestine'.
The news of his social media exit comes just a day after it was confirmed he had secured his first-ever Oscar nomination for his role in the post-World War II drama The Brutalist, in which he stars alongside Adrien Brody.
