Actor Jamie Foxx has issued an apology on Saturday for a controversial Instagram post that faced accusations of promoting antisemitism.
In a post on Instagram last week, Foxx wrote, “They killed this dude named Jesus… what do you think they’ll do to you???! #fakefriends #fakelove.”
The post triggered discussions about the concept of “Jewish deicide,” which refers to the claim that Jews bear perpetual responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While this notion has been dismissed by the Catholic Church and various Protestant denominations, it has historically been exploited to justify violence against Jewish communities, as outlined by the American Jewish Committee.
The post garnered criticism from various users, including A Wider Frame, a platform focusing on Jewish global news. The publication shared a screenshot of Foxx’s now-removed post on Instagram, accompanied by the statement, “Actor Jamie Foxx shares horrifically antisemitic message to his 16.7 million followers.”
ALSO READ: Jamie Foxx Breaks Silence, Feels Blessed and Appreciates the Love After Hospitalization
Subsequently, Foxx removed the post and posted an apology on Saturday, stating, “I want to apologize to the Jewish community and everyone who was offended by my post. I now know my choice of words have caused offense and I’m sorry. That was never my intent. To clarify, I was betrayed by a fake friend and that’s what I meant with ‘they,’ not anything more. I only have love in my heart for everyone. I love and support the Jewish community. My deepest apologies to anyone who was offended.”
CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, responded to Foxx’s apology on Saturday, saying, “We appreciate @iamjamiefoxx’s apology and thank him for his clarification.”
Foxx, aged 55, encountered an undisclosed “health complication” in April, as disclosed by his daughter. Although he has not publicly disclosed the specifics of his condition, he addressed the matter in an Instagram video the previous month, describing the experience as a journey through hardship.