Hollywood Marketing Guru Fuels Controversy by Telling Staffers to Refrain From Working With Anyone ‘Posting Against Israel’

Variety ^ | June 6, 2024 | Tatiana Siegel

[Angelino97]

A prominent Hollywood marketing and branding guru has raised eyebrows by telling staffers that they should refrain from working with anyone who is “posting against Israel.”

Ashlee Margolis, founder of the Beverly Hills firm The A List, wrote an email to her staff about a new mandate to hit “pause on working with any celebrity or influencer or tastemaker posting against Israel.” The company, which is a fixture on red carpets and is at the forefront of brand integration with celebrities, works with such companies as CAA, UTA, Lede Company and Wolf Kasteler Public Relations.

In the email, Margolis stressed that there was a distinction between what she deemed acceptable and unacceptable social media posts about the country and its current military operations in Gaza. “Anyone saying Israel is committing a ‘genocide’ is someone we will pause on working with, as that is simply not true,” the veteran marketing executive wrote. “While Jews are devastated by the loss of innocent lives in Gaza, we are feeling immense fear over the rising Jew Hatred all over the world.”

Margolis declined comment. Sources familiar with the situation note that The A List has a decades-long history of advocating for fairness and the wellbeing of others. They add that the intention of the email was to reiterate that the company is strictly anti hate and will not be a part of perpetuating harmful speech and behavior against any community.

The email comes amid a growing divide in Hollywood over the subject of Israel that emerged in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on the Nova Music Festival and nearby homes in Southern Israel...

[Angelino97]

I've often observed firsthand that most of Hollywood's Jews are fiercely pro-Israel, while simultaneously far left on all other issues.

[nwrep]

A big step.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

It's a step in the right direction. The Hollywood Jews better realize that their Pali "friends" would happily throw them into the ovens, if given half a chance.

[Zhang Fei]

[I’ve often observed firsthand that most of Hollywood’s Jews are fiercely pro-Israel, while simultaneously far left on all other issues.]

---

To be anti-Israel like you would be to favor the extermination of the only Jewish nation in the world. The dozens of Arab and Muslim countries want to eliminate Jews - it’s a requirement for Islam’s end of the world scenario. Without 2b Muslims champing at the bit to kill every last Jew, few Hollywood Jews would be as zealous.

[jeffc]

I wonder what is Variety’s opinion on those who post against the palistinians....

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Hollywood gurus routinely tell their staffers to refrain from working with anyone voting for Trump or any other Republican for that matter and it doesn’t warrant an article in Variety.

[NWFree]

Good idea those type of people are usually psychos

[Albion Wilde]

If bakers shouldn’t have to bake gay wedding cakes, a small private business should be able to screen employees.

[Angelino97]

If bakers shouldn’t have to bake gay wedding cakes, a small private business should be able to screen employees.

They're not screening employees. They're screening clients.

Not that that changes your fundamental point.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

So....say the same about blacks posting anything anti-white people. Or gays posting anything anti-straight....women posting anything anti-male.....

Hate your neighbor into the poorhoyse and be filled with glee rather than love.

[Albion Wilde]

They're not screening employees. They're screening clients.

You are correct; that's what I meant. Poor editing on my part.