Northern Irish actor Gerard McCarthy
Actor Gerard McCarthy quits play over pro-'Israel' actress
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- McCarthy said his decision reflected a need to remain true to his principles.
Northern Irish actor Gerard McCarthy has withdrawn from a scheduled London performance of 'Right Before I Go' after veteran actress Maureen Lipman was announced as part of the cast, citing her publicly expressed views on ‘Israel’ and Palestine.
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McCarthy, known for his roles in The Fall, Call the Midwife and Hollyoaks, had been due to return to the production for its London run at Soho Theatre. Lipman’s addition to the cast was announced on Aug. 26.
McCarthy announced his decision in an Instagram statement issued on Aug. 28. He said he had privately raised concerns following the announcement of Lipman’s casting.
“Following the announcement that Dame Maureen Lipman would be joining the company, I privately explained that, because of views she has publicly and repeatedly expressed regarding Israel and Palestine, I did not feel comfortable personally promoting her involvement.”
McCarthy stressed that he had not asked for Lipman’s casting to be reconsidered or expected others to adopt his position.
“I did not ask for her casting to be reconsidered or expect anybody else to share my position.”
Reflecting on the personal significance of his decision, McCarthy said:
“Sometimes you have to be prepared to walk away from something when staying would mean compromising something that matters much more.”
Read more: Palestinian-American student sues school over censored Gaza poem
Lipman’s staunch pro-’Israel’ stance
Lipman has been an outspoken supporter of ‘Israel' and has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian campaigners over her public comments. She has previously criticised protests against ‘Israel’ and called for pro-Palestinian marches in central London to be banned.
