'Friends' alum David Schwimmer calls out Hollywood stars for their silence over antisemitism: 'Speak out'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: David Schwimmer said he is done staying silent after he took to the stage at the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) 'Never is Now' conference in New York City.

The 'Friends' star delivered a powerful speech, calling out Hollywood figures who have refused to publicly condemn antisemitism, the Daily Mail reported.

David Schwimmer 'wishes' silent celebrities would speak up

The 58-year-old actor, best known for playing Ross Geller on the iconic sitcom, made it clear that he was addressing some of his own "heroes" in entertainment, music, and sports.

"Plenty of people I respect, even some of my heroes in entertainment, music, and sports, have chosen to keep a low profile and sit this one out, including some whose careers have been made by leaning into their Jewish identity, and others who have won acclaim for playing Jews onscreen," Schwimmer stated.

With a tone of both frustration and urgency, he urged them to speak up, acknowledging that while some were working behind the scenes, far too many remained publicly silent.

"Some of them are doing a lot behind the scenes, privately and in their own way, but so many have chosen not to say anything publicly at all. And if I can say something directly to them: I really wish you would," Schwimmer said.

"I wish you would stand up. I wish you would speak out because your voice would be so meaningful to your fans who love you, to your community members who need you, to folks who can use just a little solidarity right now," the 'The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story' actor added.

Schwimmer emphasized that he wasn’t asking for political declarations, just a clear stance against hatred, saying, "No one’s asking you to solve the conflict of the Middle East."

"Just say that you stand with your Jewish friends, colleagues, and neighbors against hatred and what’s happening on our college campuses and in our schools and to Jewish-owned businesses is totally unacceptable," he further added.

David Schwimmer vs Elon Musk

David Schwimmer’s impassioned speech wasn’t his first public stance on antisemitism.

Just weeks ago, the actor directly called on Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X (formerly Twitter) following the rapper’s latest antisemitic tirades.

"This is so 2022," he wrote in a post, alongside screenshots of West’s disturbing comments.

"We can't stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate-filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr Musk," Schwimmer added.

Schwimmer highlighted the massive platform West wields and wrote, "Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That's twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews."

The actor’s words were sharp and unfiltered. "I don't know what's worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own). Or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point. Silence is complicity," he added.

The pressure appeared to work, as West’s account was deactivated a day later.

However, in a move that has reignited the controversy, his account has since been reinstated. Schwimmer himself has faced repercussions for his outspokenness.

His own X account is currently suspended, though it remains unclear exactly when or why this took place.

Gal Gadot joins Davis Schwimmer at 'Never is Now' conference

Joining David Schwimmer at the event was Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who received the Anti-Defamation League’s International Leadership Award.

The 'Wonder Woman' star, 39, used her time on stage to express deep pride in her heritage and to advocate for those still suffering.

"With every hostage release, we hear new testimonies of the horrors they've been through. Every minute for them is hell. Their lives are in danger, and we need them home," she said, drawing thunderous applause.

She also directly addressed the alarming rise in antisemitism. "None of us can ignore the explosion of Jew-hatred around the world anymore. We have had enough of Jew-hatred."

"We will confront antisemitism. We will call it out, but we will never let it not only defeat us but define us because our love is stronger than their hate," Gadot added.

Hours later, Gadot took to Instagram to reinforce her message. "Deeply honored to receive this award from the ADL. This moment is about all of us standing together, proud, strong, and refusing to be silent in the face of antisemitism," she wrote. 

"October 7 was a wake-up call, but it also reminded us of our resilience and unbreakable bond. We must continue to educate, share our stories, and stand up against hate — because love will always be stronger," Gadot concluded.