John Malkovich Cancels Israel Show Over Falsely Attributed Quotes

Hollywood actor John Malkovich has canceled his planned performance in Israel for next year after a press release issued by the show's Israeli producer attributed quotes to him that he claims he never made. The announcement of Malkovich's return to Israel for a theatrical-musical show titled "The Music Critic" was made last week. The performance was scheduled for April 13 at the Tel Aviv Opera House and was to be produced by Alon Yurik.

The satirical show, which combines classical music with dark humor and scathing reviews, is based on an idea by Russian-German Jewish musician Aleksey Igudesman, who also performs in the show. The original press release included a quote attributed to Malkovich expressing excitement about returning to Israel and his affinity for the Israeli audience.

However, Malkovich stated to The Hollywood Reporter that he never approved the press release and that a PR company hired by the Israeli producer fabricated quotes. "I did not say these sentences, they are definitely not approved by me and they do not reflect my feelings," Malkovich said. He added that the misattribution was unacceptable and intolerable, leading to his decision to cancel the performance. Malkovich emphasized that his performances in any country do not constitute an endorsement of that country's policies, actions, or leaders, nor do they signify solidarity with any political cause, violence, or barbarism.

Following Malkovich's statement, the Israeli producer, Alon Yurik, issued a new statement admitting a "human error" and a "misunderstanding" that led to the incorrect quote being sent. Yurik apologized for the mistake and stated that efforts were made to retract the erroneous quote and correct the publications. He expressed regret that the incident led to the cancellation and reiterated his commitment to bringing international artists to Israel.

Malkovich has visited Israel previously, attending the Jerusalem Film Festival in 2008 and performing in 2013. "The Music Critic" has been performed internationally and was released as a musical album. Malkovich, 72, is an Emmy winner and a two-time Oscar nominee.