John Malkovich cancels ‘Israel’ performance over fake quotes
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John Malkovich canceled a planned performance of the satirical theatrical-musical The Music Critic in Tel Aviv after an ‘Israeli’ promoter’s PR firm falsely attributed statements of enthusiasm and “solidarity” to him.
The production, written and conceived by Russian-German violinist and composer Aleksey Igudesman, was scheduled for April 13, 2027, at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium.
It was to form one stop on a broader European and Middle East tour of a show Malkovich has performed in dozens of countries over nearly two decades.
The piece blends classical music with scathing historical reviews and dark humor, with Malkovich portraying an “evil critic.”
A press release issued on September 5 claimed Malkovich said he was “thrilled to return to Israel” and looked “forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity.”
Malkovich said he never made the remarks, was never consulted, and only learned of the Tel Aviv date and the attributed statements through media reports.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Malkovich said: “A PR company 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.”
“I did not utter these phrases, and they most certainly are not approved by me, nor do they reflect my feelings. The fact that they were printed as direct quotes from me is unacceptable and untenable. For this reason, I have decided I cannot participate in the Tel Aviv performance,” he added.
He added that performing in any country “does not constitute approval of said country’s policies, nor actions, nor its elected or unelected leaders,” and that appearances “would also not condone nor mean that I am in supposed ‘solidarity’ with any particular political cause, nor with the killing of innocents, nor with any acts of terrorism, nor any other kind of barbarity.”
The ‘Israeli’ producer, Alon Yurick, later acknowledged the error, stating that the original press release contained an incorrect quote resulting from a misunderstanding, and apologized.
The Jerusalem Post removed the fabricated attribution and added an editor’s note confirming it had been falsely attributed to Malkovich.
The episode unfolded against a backdrop of widespread cultural disruptions and boycotts affecting international bookings in Israel amid the ongoing assault on Gaza.
Malkovich had previously appeared in Israel in 2008 and 2013.
