Video Debra Messing calls out activists’ ‘hypocrisy’ over Iran silence Debra Messing criticizes anti-Israel activists for staying silent on Iran, calling it the "boldest example of hypocrisy" while discussing her advocacy, October 7, and backlash over defending Israel.
Actress Debra Messing said anti-Israel activists' silence on Iran is "the boldest example of hypocrisy."
"The fact that the pro-Palestinian people are silent about that is the boldest example of hypocrisy," Messing said on the "Being Jewish with Jonah Platt" podcast Tuesday.
Messing made the remarks as she discussed her advocacy following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and her decision to speak out publicly on Israel and broader Middle East issues.
She framed her comments around what she sees as a lack of consistency from anti-Israel activists that have been specifically vocal against the country.
President Donald Trump, left, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg)
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"I have to speak out," Messing said, explaining her decision to weigh in publicly on geopolitical issues.
She pointed specifically to Iran, raising concerns about what she described as a lack of attention from activists.
"What’s happening in Iran?" Messing asked. "It’s actually thrilling to see, because we’ve all known that it was a fraud."
Several high-profile Democrats are featured prominently on a U.S.-based imam's social media account who has been criticized by U.S. lawmakers for his connections to Iran and his efforts in the U.S. to support the regime's messaging. (Getty Images)
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"And now they have proved it with their silence," she said.
Her remarks came as part of a broader reflection on how her advocacy has shifted since Oct. 7, which she described as a turning point.
"There’s absolutely no option. We have to get out there and defend Israel, defend the Israeli people," Messing said.
Anti-Israel activists climb a fence during demonstrations at The City College Of New York (CUNY) as the NYPD cracks down on protest camps at both Columbia University and CCNY on April 30, 2024, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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She said she initially approached social media as a space to educate and reform.
"I wanted to put out information about Israel, about our history… about Hamas, about the IRGC," she said. "It became very clear very quickly that that was impossible."
Messing also described the personal toll of the backlash she had received online.
"As soon as I started defending Israel and being a proud Jew… the kind of comments that I get, they are so deranged and hurtful and painful," Messing said.
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"My first instinct is always to defend myself and to clarify my position," she said.
The actress also reflected on her upbringing, recalling that she often felt unsafe expressing her Jewish identity as a child and concealed it in school.
"I learned to not talk about being Jewish," she said.
"I’ve never felt safe in my entire life until now."
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CJ joined Fox News Digital's team in 2026, which highlights the vital role journalism plays in shaping politics and culture. He has years of experience analyzing and reporting on the news media.
CJ graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.
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