In a dramatic reversal, Hollywood’s writers union has apologized for refusing to condemn the Hamas terror attacks in Israel that have left 1,200 dead, with union leaders issuing a public message of contrition Tuesday following several days of mounting pressure from within its own ranks.
In an e-mail to members obtained by multiple outlets, Writers Guild of America, West leaders apologized for the “tremendous pain” they caused by refusing to condemn the mass murder of Jews despite the guild’s history of taking controversial political stances, including support for Black Lives Matter and endorsing Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 2020.
WGAW President Meredith Stiehm speaks onstage during the 2023 Writers Guild Awards West Coast Ceremony at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for WGAW)
“The Guild’s decision not to issue a statement on the events of October 7th has caused pain within our membership that we did not intend,” said WGA West leadership said, later adding they “are truly sorry” for the “tremendous pain” they caused.
WGA leaders said they “are horrified by the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th. The murder of so many innocent people in Israel is an abomination. We deeply mourn the deaths of innocent Palestinians ensnared in the violence in Gaza.”
In an attempt to explain why they have taken political stances in the past, union leaders claimed: “those instances fell mainly under the umbrella of defending social justice in the U.S. or freedom of expression, and where possible, were connected back to writers’ working lives.”
Meanwhile, the guild’s east coast branch still hasn’t commented on the Hamas attacks.
WGA East leaders reportedly said this week they won’t condemn the mass murder of Israelis because the branch is comprised of 40 percent journalists.
Many writers for far-left news sites, including Slate and Jezebel, are represented by the WGA East.
As Breitbart News reported, a growing group of Hollywood heavyweights put pressure on the writers guild last week for choosing to remain silent on Hamas’ bloody attack on Israel.
The Writers Guild of America has historically been the most leftist of all the Hollywood unions, with a history of being a hotbed of communist activity and sympathy.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to reflect a revised number on the death toll from the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel. The Israeli government estimate of 1,400 was revised to around 1,200, according to Reuters.
Follow David Ng on Twitter @HeyItsDavidNg. Have a tip? Contact me at dng@breitbart.com