Actor Jamie Foxx issued an apology on Saturday for an Instagram post that appeared to be antisemitic. Foxx, who is currently recovering from an undisclosed medical issue, deleted the post that read, "They killed this dude name Jesus … They’ll do to you???!" In his apology, Foxx expressed regret for his choice of words and claimed to have been "betrayed by a fake friend" who he believes is the subject of the post.
The now-deleted post seemed to perpetuate the antisemitic belief of "Jewish deicide," which claims that Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ. This belief was denounced by the Catholic Church in 1965, according to the American Jewish Committee.
Actress Jennifer Aniston, who had liked Foxx's post, also apologized and stated that she does not support any form of antisemitism. Incidents of antisemitic harassment have been on the rise in recent years, with over 3,600 recorded incidents in 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Foxx has been relatively absent from the public eye since being hospitalized in April. Reports suggest that he is now undergoing physical rehabilitation in Chicago. He recently made his first public appearance since his hospitalization, seen on a boat on the Chicago River.
In a separate tangent, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, attended a summer camp in Pennsylvania to campaign against antisemitic rhetoric. Emhoff emphasized the importance of combating antisemitism and ensuring that young people feel happy and joyful in their Jewish identity.
Overall, Foxx's apology and recognition of the offense caused by his words is a step towards accountability and understanding. The incident sheds light on the ongoing issue of antisemitism and the need for continued efforts to combat it.