Gerard Butler gets abuse for wildfire tweet after attending pro-Israel event
Scottish-born entertainer was set upon by pro-Palestine activists online after posting a picture of his home destroyed in California wildfires
Francine Wolfisz is the Features Editor for Jewish News.
Actor Gerard Butler, who recently supported Israeli soldiers at a fundraising event, has received a torrent of abuse from pro-Palestinian activists since posting a picture of his home destroyed in the California wildfires ravaging the state.
Earlier this month, the Scottish-born actor attended the Friends of the IDF Western Region Gala in Los Angeles, where $60million was raised for programmes helping Israeli soldiers.
The star of 300, like thousands of other residents, was later forced to evacuate from his Malibu mansion in what has been described as the deadliest wildfire in California’s history.
After returning to the smouldering ruins, he posted a photograph of the devastation on Twitter and Instagram.
He wrote: “Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LAFD. If you can, support these brave men and women at http://SupportLAFD.org .”
Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LAFD. If you can, support these brave men and women at https://t.co/ei7c7F7cZx. pic.twitter.com/AcBcLtKmDU
— Gerard Butler (@GerardButler) November 11, 2018
The post has been retweeted 12,938 times, with 55,450 Likes.
But it has also attracted disparaging remarks from Pro-Palestinian supporters.
@ShehabiFares, a member of the Syrian parliament, wrote: “You should have put away some the $60 million you donated to the IDF to destroy more Palestinian homes! Bad call..! Ask Israelis to help u rebuild…!”
@NWaldhausen added: “As you gave the millions to the international Khazarian ZioNazi army of thieves and murderers you haven’t thought of Palestinian children who get murdered with your $ I don’t feel with you, you have blood on your hands.”
In support of Butler, @LuanneChambers replied: “Wow. All this guy was trying to say was thanks to the firefighters and people turn it into commentary on the middle east?!”
@karshanandrea added: “I just want to say that some of the people tweeting on this thread find it disgusting to mob Twitter someone for being pro-Israel but think it’s ok to mob Twitter someone because they THINK they are racist. #Hypocrisy It is never ok to mob Twitter anyone.”
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