LOS ANGELES (February 1, 2021) — Today, more than 170 Black and Jewish leaders from the entertainment industry released an open letter to launch the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance (Alliance), a joint initiative by Black and Jewish entertainment industry professionals devoted to countering racism and antisemitism in the entertainment community. 

In the face of institutional racism, rising antisemitism, and societal turmoil, the members of the Alliance feel it is critical to stand together and support one another, which starts with the release of the unity statement found below. 

Billy Porter (Actor), Jeremy Piven (Actor), Sharon Osbourne (Manager/TV personality), Nick Cannon (Actor/Producer), Aaron Bay-Schuck (Co-Chairman & CEO of Warner Records), Antoine Fuqua (Director/Producer), Ethiopia Habtemariam (President of Motown Records), Ron Perry (CEO/Chairman of Columbia Records), Guy Oseary (Founder, Maverick Management), Mekhi Phifer (Actor), Gene Simmons (KISS), Warren Moon (Hall of Fame Quarterback), Ben Silverman (Chairman and CEO of Propagate Content), and many others are among the signers of the statement, which will run this month in full page ads in Variety and Billboard. 

“The Black and Jewish communities, who have a long history of supporting and working together, are so much stronger when we stand together in the fight against hate,” said Aaron Bay-Schuck, Co-Chairman & CEO of Warner Records. “This Alliance will elevate voices in the entertainment community that can help the public to better understand the causes, manifestations, and effects of racism and antisemitism, ensuring that our industry is doing its part to be a voice for hope, unity, and healing in our country.”

While many organizations combat antisemitism and racism individually, the Alliance creates a unified voice against both evils. The Alliance will highlight the historical bonds of both communities, host programming to highlight their common fight against hate, and facilitate collaborative events to build solidarity between the Black and Jewish communities. Through the Alliance, Black and Jewish entertainment leaders can use this shared platform to quickly respond to inflammatory incidents and work together to fight bigotry, racism, and antisemitism in all their forms.

“Film and art have always been about giving those unjustly attacked and marginalized a voice. As two communities that have long been targeted simply for who they are, the Black and Jewish communities are stronger when we stand together,” stated director and producer Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer). “It is thus incumbent on us, as members of the entertainment community, to continue to be united in the face of hateful discrimination and be a positive voice for change.”

“In the present climate of increased difficulties faced by both groups it is important to take a moment to celebrate the special relationship between members of the Black and Jewish community in the entertainment industry,” said Ben Silverman, Chairman and CEO of Propagate Content. “The ongoing nature of systematic racism, the frightening rise of antisemitism and hate crimes has brought us to yet another period of crisis. We formed this Alliance to facilitate conversations and coordinate actions between Black and Jewish entertainment leaders on these issues.”

We are deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The loss of life and violence is heartbreaking. We call on the leaders of all parties to end the violence, urge calm, and work towards a de-escalation.

We also call on all our colleagues and friends in the entertainment community to stop posting misinformation and one-sided narratives that only work to inflame the conflict instead of bringing about peace.

While we may have differing opinions on the conflict it is never okay for Hamas to publicly call for the killing of civilians, use civilians as human shields, and rain down missiles indiscriminately on civilian populations with no care about who is killed, Arab or Jew.

When lives are at stake, we all bear responsibility to unite rather than divide—incendiary language only benefits those at the extremes who have no interest in peace. Our thoughts are with all Israelis and Palestinians who are experiencing unfathomable levels of fear and violence, and hope for the day when both peoples can live side by side in peace.

24kGoldn: Artist

Josh Abraham: Co-CEO, Pulse Music Group

Jason Adelmen: Former VP of Strategic Partnerships at Relativity Media

Marty Adelstein: CEO, Tomorrow Studios

Michael Adler: Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman, & Clark

Nate Albert: Executive Vice President of A&R, Warner Music Group

Jason Alexander: Actor

Mitch Allan: President/Founder, Mitch Allan Inc.

Chris Atlas: EVP Urban Music & Marketing, Warner Records

Nate Auerbach: Partner, Versus Creative

Justice Baiden: Manager & Co-Founder, Love Renaissance (LVRN)

Zach Banner: NFL Player, Steelers

Eve Barlow: Music Journalist 

Aaron Bay-Schuck: CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Records

Benda: DJ

Aton Ben-Horin: Global Vice President of A&R for Warner Music Group

Steven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment Group

Mayim Bialik: Actress/Producer

Joshua Binder: Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLP

Neil Blair: Partner, The Blair Partnership

Ozwald Boateng: Fashion Designer

Evan Bogart: Songwriter & Co-Founder of Boardwalk Entertainment Group.

Catherine Brewton: Vice President, Creative at Broadcast Music, Inc.

Ryan Butler: Project Manager, Recording Academy

Valeisha Butterfield Jones: Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, The Recording Academy

David Byrnes: Partner at Ziffren, Brittenham, LLP

Barbara Cane: Vice President, Worldwide Creative of BMI

Nick Cannon: Actor/Producer

Troy Carter: Founder at Q&A

Donna Caseine: EVP Creative, Reservoir Media Management

Markell Casey: Senior Director, Pulse Music Group

Ted Chervin: Founding Partner, ICM

Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress, Activist

Stanley Clarke: Musician, Composer

Jim Cooperman: Senior VP Legal and Business Affairs, Madison Square Garden Company

Raye Cosbert: Managing Director, Metropolis Music

Mike Cotler: Actor

Terry Crews: Actor

Craig David: Artist/Songwriter

Andre Davidson: Music Producer, The Monarch

Sean Davidson: Music Producer, The Monarch

Doug Davis: Partner, The Davis Firm

Suzanna de Passe: Film & TV Producer

Kosha Dillz: Artist/Songwriter

Brian Dobbins: Co-President, Artists First

David Draiman: Musician and front man of Disturbed

Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC

Bruce Eskowitz: COO, Redlight Management

Jeffrey Evans: Baseline Management

Phylicia Fant: Co-Head Urban Music, Columbia Records

Sharon Farber: Composer

Eric Feig: Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law, Inc.

Patti Felker: Partner, Felker, Toczek, Suddleson, & Abramson LLP

Ken Fermaglich: Partner, United Talent Agency

Marc Fineman: Founder and President FINE Group

Erica Forster: VP of Music Partnerships, DanceOn

Daryl Friedman: Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations Officer, The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs

Antoine Fuqua: Director/Producer

Nick Gale (Digital Farm Animals): Artist/Songwriter/Producer 

David Gardner: Co-President, Artists First

Willie Gault: Olympic Gold Medalist

Nicole George-Middleton: Senior Vice President of Membership at ASCAP

Gary Gersh: President, Global Touring, A.E.G

Donna Gigliotti: Film Producer

Karen Glauber: President, HITS Magazine

Elon Gold: Actor, Comedian 

Alistair Goldmsith: President, Chosen Music 

Michael Goldwasser: Record Producer & President/Co-Founder of Easy Star Records

Shani Gonzales: Managing Director, Warner Chappell UK / Head of Global A&R

Louis Gossett Jr.: Actor

Andrew Gould: Global Head of A&R Downtown Publishing

Max Gousse: CEO, Founder, Artistry Records

Damien Granderson: Partner, Granderson Des Rochers, LLP 

Trudy Green: Trudy Green Management/HK Management

Steve Greenberg: Founder & President, S-Curve Records

Benjy Grinberg: Founder and President, Rostrum Records

Ethiopia Habtemariam: President of Motown Records 

Tiffany Haddish: Comedian, Actress

Kenny Hamilton: Partner, CSH Management Group, Inc.

Herbie Hancock: Grammy Award Winning Artist & Musician

Rani Hancock: President, Sire Records

Ronnie Harris: Partner, Harris & Trotter LLP

Jo Hart: Founder, Hart Media

David Helfant: Attorney, Law Offices of David A. Helfant

Dule Hill: Actor

D.L. Hughley: Actor, Comedian 

Ari Ingel, Esq.: Director, CCFP

Randy Jackson: Manager/Producer/TV Personality

Neil Jacobson: Former President, Geffen Records, Founder of Hallwood Media

Jonathan Jakubowicz: Writer, Director

Jeriel Johnson: Executive Director Washington DC, The Recording Academy

Jaha Johnson: SVP/Head of A&R, HITCO

Al Joyner: Olympic Gold Medalist

Rachel Kaplan: Producer, Absecon Entertainment

Zach Katz: Co-Founder and CEO, Raised In Space 

Larry King: TV Host

Scott Kluge: President, Tremendous Entertainment 

Amanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh Agency

Blair Kohan: Partner, UTA

Rick Krim: Former Co-President, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures

Eriq LaSalle: TV & Film Producer

Estelle Lasher: Manager, Producer

Colin Lester OBE: Founder, Chairman, JEM Music Group

David Levy: Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia, Founder of Back Nine Ventures 

Ezekiel Lewis: EVP & Head of A&R, Epic Records

Rob Light: Partner/Managing Director/Head of Music, CAA

Cory Litwin: Executive Vice President, Hallwood Media

Kenny Lofton: All-Star & Gold Glove Winning Baseball Player and CEO, Filmpool Inc.

David Lonner: CEO, The David Lonner Co.  

Ben Maddahi: SVP of A&R, Columbia Records 

Gabriel Mann: Composer/Producer

Susan Markheim: Full Stop Mgt. – The Azoff Company

Orly Marley: President, Tuff Gong Worldwide 

Harvey Mason Jr.: Interim President/CEO, Recording Academy

Nancy Matalon: VP of A&R, Spirit Music Group

Chioke “Stretch” McCoy: Founding Partner, Active Management

Cameron Mitchell: CEO of Curated By Media

Warren Moon: Hall-of-Fame NFL Quarterback 

Lisa Nupoff: Music Manager, IMINMUSIC Management

Sharon Osbourne: American-British Television Personality, Manager

Guy Oseary: Manager, Founder Maverick Management 

Metta World Peace: Former NBA Player

Ron Perry: CEO/ Chairman of Columbia Records

Julian Petty: EVP, Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Warner Records

Mekhi Phifer: Actor

Jeremy Piven: Actor

Lylette Pizzaro: Founder and Co- Managing Partner, Influence Media

Billy Porter: Actor

Michael Praw

David Renzer: Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group Publishing 

Bourn Rich: Social Justice Street Artist, Clothing Designer

Lindy Robbins: Songwriter

Hanna Rochelle: Founder & President of Lyric Culture

Sam “Romans” Roman: Artist/Songwriter/Producer

Rick Rosen: Co-Founder & Head of Television, WME

Aaron Rosenberg: Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light, LLP

Shep Rosenman: Partner, Katz Golden Rosenman LLP

Phil Rosenthal: TV Writer, Producer, & Talent 

Jeff Ross: Comedian

Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment

Autumn Rowe: Singer/Songwriter

Anthony Saleh: Partner WndrCo

Jacqueline Saturn: President, Caroline Music/Capital Music Group

Oscar Scheller: Songwriter/Producer 

Paul Schindler: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Jordan Schnur: CEO, Mimran Schur Pictures 

Steve Schnur: Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts

Sam Schwartz: Co-principal of Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency

Camila Seta: Marketing & Content Strategy at Rogers & Cowan

Cathy Shulman: President and CEO, Welle Entertainment

Mark Siegel: Partner, Head of Music, ICM

Ben Silverman: Chairman and co-CEO of Propagate Content

Gene Simmons: Artist/KISS 

Ralph Simon: Chairman & CEO, Mobilium Global Limited

Martin Singer: Attorney, Lavely and Singer

Jeff Sosnow: EVP A&R, Warner Records

Nicky Stein: Partner, Clintons

Gary Stiffelman: Founder, GSS Law

Aaron Symonds: Film Composer

Traci Szymanski: President, Co-Star Entertainment/Isrealife Media Group

Adam Taylor: President/CEO, APM Music

Noa Tishby: Actress, Singer

Fred Toczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP

Diane Warren: Songwriter

Joshua Washington: Artist/Songwriter

Jon Weinbach: EVP/Executive Producer, Mandalay Sports Media

Larry Wilmore: Comedian, Producer, Writer, Actor

Evan Winiker: Manager, Full Stop Management

Jeffrey Winter: Executive Director, The Film Collaborative

Won-G: Artist, Manager

** Note – The signers of this statement do so as individuals on their own behalf and not on behalf of their companies or organizations. All organizations and companies listed are for affiliation purposes only. 

ABOUT THE BLACK-JEWISH ENTERTAINMENT ALLIANCE

The Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance is the first initiative by Black and Jewish entertainment industry leaders dedicated to building bridges between their respective communities and countering institutional racism and antisemitism. To learn more, please visit: www.blackjewishentalliance.com