John Malkovich cancels Tel Aviv show after promoter fabricates statement from him on Israel
Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich cancelled an upcoming stage performance in Tel Aviv after learning that The Jerusalem Post unknowingly published a made-up a quote attributed to him about his “closeness and solidarity” with Israeli audiences.Malkovich, in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, said a local public relations firm “hired by the Israeli promoter drafted a quote for the article that was attributed to me, though I never made the statements that were quoted, nor was I consulted before they were printed.”“The fact that they were printed as direct quotes from me is unacceptable and untenable,” his statement read.“For this reason, I have decided I cannot participate in the Tel Aviv performance.”The offending quote, which NBC News obtained by using The Wayback Machine internet archive, was published by The Jerusalem Post on Saturday.
It said: “I am thrilled to return to Israel and look forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity.I hope to find you happy and optimistic! Sending you much love.”After Malkovich complained, the newspaper updated its story to include an apology from the show’s Israeli producer, Alon Yurik.“I would like to clarify that the original press release contained a mistake, and an incorrect quote from Malkovich was included due to a misunderstanding,” Yurik stated.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for that.”It also included a slightly different version of the offending quote attributed to Malkovich: “I am excited to return to Israel and would be very happy to meet again with the warm Israeli audience, with whom I feel great closeness and identification.”Tal Spungin, the newspaper’s managing editor, said in an email to NBC News that the “difference is due to a discrepancy in the translation of the quote.” “It was initially provided to our Hebrew-language sister publication, Walla, in Hebrew, and was then ...