LOS ANGELES (February 1, 2021) — Today, more than 170 Black and Jewish leaders from the entertainment industry released a unity statement 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 acknowledge that the Black and Jewish communities have a shared history of subjugation and persecution.

We recognize that the Black community in America has faced a history of racism that continues to this day, while the Jewish community is currently encountering record levels of antisemitism, which affects both group’s sense of fear, vulnerability, and self-worth.

As members of the entertainment community, we stand against all forms of hate, and pledge to work to bring our two communities together in solidarity, to support one another in our struggles, and to better understand each other’s plight and narratives.

 The Jewish community must continue to speak out against racial injustice and work to effect change, while the Black community must continue to speak out against all forms of antisemitism.

 In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., Rabbi Abraham Heschel, and the many Blacks and Jews who stood together in the fight for civil rights, we come together to support each other in the struggle against hatred and bigotry.

 In the words of the late John Lewis, “We are one people, one family, the human family, and what affects one of us affects us all.”

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

Anthony Adler: Alabi, Inc.

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

Rachel Altman: Talent Agent, Paradigm Agency

Kevin Asch: Lookbook Films

Nate Auerbach: Partner, Versus Creative

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

Autumn Bailey-Ford: Autumn Bailey Entertainment

Zach Banner: NFL Player, Steelers

Eve Barlow: Music Journalist 

Ivan Barias: D.O.X. Inc.

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

Gina Belafonte: Film Producer

Benda: DJ

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

Lynda Bensky: Bensky Entertainment

Steven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment Group

David Bernon: Burn Later Productions

Mayim Bialik: Actress/Producer

Jeff Biederman: Mannatt

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

Nissim Black: Artist, Producer

Paul “DJ Shadow” Blair: Artist, Producer

Neil Blair: Partner, The Blair Partnership

Rishon Blumberg: Brick Wall Management

Ozwald Boateng: Fashion Designer

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

Betsy Borns: Showrunner, Writer

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

Simon Brodkin: Self

Robin Bronk: The Creative Coalition

Binta Niambi Brown: Keep Cool LLC, Black Music Action Coalition

Desiree Burch: Comedian

Scott Burns: Producer, Writer

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

Dorothy Canton: Atmosphere Entertainment MM

Troy Carter: Founder at Q&A

Donna Caseine: EVP Creative, Reservoir Media Management

Markell Casey: Senior Director, Pulse Music Group

Brian Celler: Bravo Charlie Management

George Cheeks: President and CEO, CBS Entertainment Group

Ted Chervin: Founding Partner, ICM

Tracy Christian: TCA Management

Emmanuelle Chriqui: Actress, Activist

Stanley Clarke: Musician, Composer

Jeremy Cohen: Disney

Mitch Cole: The Walt Disney Company

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

Yuval David: Actor, Host, Filmmaker, Advocate

Andre Davidson: Music Producer, The Monarch

Sean Davidson: Music Producer, The Monarch

Doug Davis: Partner, The Davis Firm

Suzanna de Passe: Film & TV Producer

Craig Dershowitz: Artist

Kosha Dillz: Artist/Songwriter

Brian Dobbins: Co-President, Artists First

Dustin Doty: Velocity Entertainment Partners

David Draiman: Musician and front man of Disturbed

Noam Dromi: Reboot Studios

Ezra Edmond: Disney

Craig Emanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLC

Bruce Eskowitz: COO, Redlight Management

Jeffrey Evans: Baseline Management

Sophie Everhard: Sofar Sounds

Phylicia Fant: Co-Head Urban Music, Columbia Records

Mr. Flower Fantastic: Artist

Sharon Farber: Composer

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

Adam Fell: Quincy Jones Productions

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

Ken Fermaglich: Partner, United Talent Agency

Eric Fineman: Pascal Pictures

Marc Fineman: Founder and President FINE Group

Brian Harris Fink: COO Shelter Music Group

Jeff Finelstein: Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano

Shira Flescher: Sony Music Entertainment

Aaron Fogelson: CEO, Dogghouse Consulting

Erica Forster: VP of Music Partnerships, DanceOn

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

Roger Friedman: Showbiz411

BK Fulton: Soulidifly Productions

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

Ellen Gilbert: Talent Agent, Paradigm Agency

Karen Glauber: President, HITS Magazine

Simon Glickman: VP/Managing Editor, HITS Magazine

Elon Gold: Actor, Comedian 

Wendy C. Goldberg: Director, Producer, Artistic Director

Debra Goldfarb: Gersh Agency

Alistair Goldmsith: President, Chosen Music 

Josh Goldstein: President, JG Productions Inc.

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

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

Reggie Gooden: Partner, Business Manager, EightOneEight Management

Jonathan Gordon: CEO, 1916 Enterprises, LLC

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

Gerald Greenberg: President, Mirage Music Entertainment

Steve Greenberg: Founder & President, S-Curve Records

Adam Griffin: Talent Manager, Producer, Vault Entertainment

Akiva Griffith: Publicity Principal, Amazon Studios

Benjy Grinberg: Founder and President, Rostrum Records

Mithcell Grossbach: CEO, Founder, Some Great Management

Ethiopia Habtemariam: President of Motown Records 

Paul Hackner: Supervising Sound Editor and Re-recording Mixer, Warner Bros.

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

Natalie Hayden: VP, Film Music, Universal Pictures

Jason Heller: SVP, Business & Legal Affairs, Warner Records

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

Larry Jenkins: President, LJ Entertainment

Jeriel Johnson: Executive Director Washington DC, The Recording Academy

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

Wayne Josel: Senior VP, Business & Legal Affairs, ASCAP

Al Joyner: Olympic Gold Medalist

Rachel Kaplan: Producer, Absecon Entertainment

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

Brooke Keesling: Head of Animation Talent Development, Bento Box Entertainment

Larry King: TV Host

Sam Kling: SVP & Head of Creative, SESAC

Scott Kluge: President, Tremendous Entertainment 

Amanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh Agency

Blair Kohan: Partner, UTA

Heather Kolker: Artist Manager, Other Operation

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

Mildred Langford: CO-Founder, Chair,  The Black Creators Collective

Sherry Lansing: Former CEO of Paramount Pictures

Eriq LaSalle: TV & Film Producer

Estelle Lasher: Manager, Producer

James Leach: VP, Creative Services, West Coast Operations, SESAC

Adam Leipzig: CEO, MediaU

Peter Lenkov: Writer, Producer, 101st Street Entertainment

Colin Lester OBE: Founder, Chairman, JEM Music Group

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

Monica Levinson: Producer, All of Us Productions

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

Michelle Lewis: Executive Director, Songwriters of North America

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

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

Melissa Manchester: Singer, Songwriter  

Gabriel Mann: Composer/Producer

Ari Mark: Co-Founder, AMPLE

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

Matisyahu: Artist

Chioke “Stretch” McCoy: Founding Partner, Active Management

Nick Meyers: Manager, Fast Friends

Cameron Mitchell: CEO of Curated By Media

Nathalie Moar: EVP Communications, Combs Enterprises

Warren Moon: Hall-of-Fame NFL Quarterback 

Martin Moszkowicz: CEO, Constantin Film

Mikhail Nayfeld: President, Heroes and Villains Entertainment

Lee Nelson: CEO, Envision Media Arts

Hank Neuberger: CEO, Springboard Productions Inc.

Jeremy Newberger: CEO, Ironbound Films

Elizabeth Newman: Executive, Walt Disney Television

Leetal Nissenbaum: VP of Synchronization and Licensing, Ulta Records

Adam Novodor: Music Producer, Songwriter, DJ, Ultra Records, Sony ATV, Fast Friends

Lisa Nupoff: Music Manager, IMINMUSIC Management

Tracy-Ann Oberman: Actress

Sharon Osbourne: American-British Television Personality, Manager

Kelechi Osemele: NFL Player, Kansas City Chiefs

Guy Oseary: Manager, Founder Maverick Management 

Metta World Peace: Former NBA Player

Mandi Perkins: Artist/Songwriter

Jan Perry: Former Councilwoman, City of Los Angeles, and Executive Director of the Infrastructure Funding Alliance

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

Brian Popowitz: General Manager, Black Box

Billy Porter: Actor

Bill Prady: Writer, Producer

Michael Praw

Rachel Rabin: Artist

Josh Radnor

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

Bourn Rich: Social Justice Street Artist, Clothing Designer

Glenn Rigberg: President, CEO, Inphenate

Steve Rifkin: CEO, Spring Sound

Lindy Robbins: Songwriter

Danielle Robay: TV Host

Leon Robinson: President, Owner, Motion Mob Films, Peoples Touring Company

Hanna Rochelle: Founder & President of Lyric Culture

Sam “Romans” Roman: Artist/Songwriter/Producer

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

Scott Rosenbaum: President, Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions

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

Alison Rosenfeld Moses: Music Supervisor, Aperture Music

Shep Rosenman: Partner, Katz Golden Rosenman LLP

Phil Rosenthal: TV Writer, Producer, & Talent 

Mike Rosenstein: Film & TV Producer, Sunset Rose Pictures

Jeff Ross: Comedian

Michael Rotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment

Autumn Rowe: Singer/Songwriter

Anthony Saleh: Partner WndrCo

Paul Samuels: VP A&R, Atlantic Records

Jacqueline Saturn: President, Caroline Music/Capital Music Group

Brad Saunders: Head of Television, Estuary Films

Ayelet Schiffman: SVP Head of Promotions, Island Records

Oscar Scheller: Songwriter/Producer 

Paul Schindler: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Jordan Schur: CEO & Chairman, Mimran Schur Pictures & Suretone Entertainment

Lindsay Schuster: Original Series Production, Netflix

Steve Schnur: Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts

Sam Schwartz: Co-principal of Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency

Noah Segan: Actor, Filmmaker

Justin Seltzer: General Manager, Blue Note Records/Capital Music Group

David Serero: Opera Singer, Actor, Producer

Camila Seta: Marketing & Content Strategy at Rogers & Cowan

David Shapiro: CEO, Starlight Partners LLC

Julie Shapiro: Director Entertainment & Media Law Institute, Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount

Rachel Sheedy: President, Insurge Entertainment

Bettina Sherick: SVP, Consumer Insights and Audience Analytics, Warner Bros.

Michelle Shocked: Singer, Songwriter

Cathy Shulman: President and CEO, Welle Entertainment

David Silberstein: CO-President, Mega House

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

Marc Smolowitz: CEO, Director, Producer, Executive Producer, 13th Gen Inc.

Jeff Sosnow: EVP A&R, Warner Records

Nicky Stein: Partner, Clintons

Gary Stiffelman: Founder, GSS Law

Jack Sussman: EVP-Specials, Music & Live Events/Alternative & Reality, CBS

Joshua Sussman: Operations, ABC Signature

Ronald Sweeney: Attorney, Manager

Aaron Symonds: Film Composer

Fernando Szew: CEO, MarVista Entertainment

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

Adam Taylor: President/CEO, APM Music

Tiffany Tenille: Actor, Filmmaker

Michael Thorn: President of Scripted Television and Animation, Fox Entertainment

Noa Tishby: Actress, Singer

Fred Toczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP

Narada Michael Walden: Singer, Songwriter, Journey

Rebecca Walker: Writer/Director/Producer, Triple Nine Productions

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

Alison Wolfson: Partner, Neumann Wolfson Art

Jeremy Yohai: SVP of A&R, Creative, Concord Music Publishing

Amy Ziff: The Band Petty

Danny Zuker: Writer, Modern Family

Won-G: Artist, Manager

Jian Magen: President, Magen Group

Alex Voihanski: President, Paramount Business Group

Jasmine Joseph-Danielpour: Manager

Deron Johnson: Head of Music, QCode Media

** 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