Woody Allen Decries "Intellectual" Antisemitism in New York

A statement attributed to filmmaker Woody Allen, who recently turned 90, has drawn attention for its sharp critique of rising antisemitism in New York, particularly in relation to protests against Israel. Allen reportedly stated that modern antisemitism has become "much more intellectual," contrasting it with past overt hatred. "In the past, people just hated us. Directly. Today, not anymore," the text reads.

Allen also addressed protests outside synagogues and anti-Israel chants, recounting an incident where a woman declared, "We are against Zionism, not against Jews." He asserted that the underlying sentiment remains the same, lamenting that in the past, those perpetrating violence lacked academic credentials, whereas "today the rioters come with diplomas from Columbia University."

One of the most pointed messages concerns chants of "Death to Zionists" outside a synagogue, which Allen described not as complex but as a "remake, and a worse remake."

The text concludes with a warning against becoming accustomed to antisemitism, noting that "Jews have hoped too many times that the madness would disappear on its own. It never disappeared. It just puts on a suit, goes to university, and opens a TikTok account."

An editorial note accompanying the text cautions that the source could not verify if Woody Allen actually wrote it, and therefore would not have published the article without further verification.