Controversy continues after Jonathan Glazer's ‘The Zone of Interest’ Oscar speech

Controversy continues to rage regarding Jonathan Glazer’s polarizing speech at the Oscars.

When the British filmmaker took the stage after the Auschwitz-set Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest was announced as Best International Feature, he delivered a stirring speech, in which he drew a parallel between his film and the current conflict in Gaza.

Glazer, who is Jewish, said those killed in both Israel and Gaza were victims of "dehumanisation".

"Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst. It's shaped all of our past and present."

He continued: “Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack in Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist?”

Glazer has received criticism for his words, specifically from the Holocaust Survivor’s Foundation USA (HSF), whose chairman David Schaecter labelled the speech “morally indefensible”, and the the Anti-Defamation League, who posted a message on social media, saying that his comments were “reprehensible”.

“Glazer used a common refrain from Jew-haters — that the Holocaust is the ‘get out of jail free card’ for Jews,” said Allison Josephs, founder and executive director of Jew in the City. “He blamed Jews for their own massacre by saying that ‘the occupation led to conflict for so many people,’ which is why he was refuting his Jewishness and the Holocaust being used for this purpose. Cillian Murphy accepted his award as ‘a very proud Irishman.’ If only we had a SINGLE Jew in Hollywood who could accept their award as a very proud Jew.”

Now, several other notable directors have weighed in,