Lebanese Campaign Calls to Boycott Spider-Man Film Over Israeli Producer

A boycott campaign in Lebanon is urging the public to avoid the new Spider-Man movie, "Spider-Man: A New Day," due to the involvement of Israeli producer Avi Arad. The campaign, titled "Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon," targets the film because Arad, a former Israeli now based in the United States, has openly supported Israel and its political positions.

Avi Arad, originally from Ramat Gan, Israel, is a prominent Hollywood producer credited with revitalizing Marvel Comics in the 1990s and producing major superhero films such as X-Men and Spider-Man. Despite his Hollywood success, it is his political stance supporting Israel that has made him a target in Lebanon. In 2024, Arad publicly criticized U.S. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer for comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The boycott campaign questions whether Lebanese audiences want to support entertainment projects involving individuals who express pro-Israel views. It calls on the Lebanese public not to buy tickets or increase the film’s viewership. This campaign is part of a broader Lebanese movement against normalization with Israel, which previously led to the 2017 ban of "Wonder Woman" starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot and recently pressured the cancellation of Israeli doctor Sharona Russ’s participation in a Lebanese conference.

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, associated with Hezbollah, labeled the boycott effort "Zionist Spider-Man," emphasizing that even films are seen as part of the struggle against Israel. The campaign aims to keep Spider-Man off Lebanese screens solely due to the involvement of an Israeli producer.

Summary: A Lebanese boycott campaign targets the new Spider-Man film due to Israeli producer Avi Arad’s involvement and political support for Israel, urging audiences to avoid the movie as part of a broader anti-normalization effort.