Susan Sarandon dropped by talent agency following pro-Palestinian rally appearance

Susan Sarandon was dropped as a client by a Hollywood talent agency after speaking out at a pro-Palestine rally over the weekend.

United Talent Agency no longer represents Sarandon, a spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday.

At the rally, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on the climate of fear the Jewish community is experiencing since the war between Israel and Palestinian militants began last month. "There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence," Sarandon said, according to footage obtained by the New York Post.

Since Oct. 7, the Anti-Defamation League, an advocacy group that frequently speaks out against antisemitism and extremism, has tracked 832 anti-Jewish acts in the United States.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Sarandon for comment.

Sarandon encouraged people to have the 'courage to speak out' in support of Palestinians

According to The Guardian, Sarandon also encouraged others to have the "courage to speak out" in support of Palestinians: "People are questioning, people are standing up, people are educating themselves, people are stepping away from brainwashing that started when they were kids."

The news of UTA cutting ties with Sarandon broke the same afternoon that Variety revealed actor Melissa Barrera was dropped from the upcoming "Scream 7" film due to her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel's conflict with Palestinian militants escalated Oct. 7 after stunning and deadly surprise attacks by Hamas that coincided with a major Jewish holiday and the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It was one of the most significant attacks on Israel in decades, with militants infiltrating 22 towns and army bases.

Hamas launched a shocking attack against Israel – including the Nova music festival located a few miles from the Gaza Strip, where Hamas gunmen killed more than 260 revelers in the biggest civilian massacre in Israeli history, according to the Associated Press – on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed, and Hamas took around 240 hostages, Israeli authorities say.

The attack led to weeks of retaliation by Israeli forces waging battle on the ground and with airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The military campaign has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry says.

A number of celebrities have shown solidarity with Israel amid the conflict, including “Wonder Woman” actress Gal Gadot, who is Israeli and served in the Israel Defense Forces.

Stars on Israel-Hamas conflict: Gal Gadot, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian support Israel amid 'horrific' Palestinian conflict

In October, Hollywood agent Maha Dakhil resigned from the Creative Artists Agency internal board after making comments on social media regarding Israel. According to Variety, she also stepped down from leadership duties as co-head of the motion pictures department.

Dakhil represents A-list talent such as Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman and Madonna.

Dakhil reposted a statement from an Instagram account with the username @savesheikhjarrahnow and labeled Free Palestine, that read: "You’re currently learning who supports genocide."

Dakhil added her own statement, writing: "That’s the line for me." In another photo, she wrote: "What’s more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening."

Per Variety, the social media posts have since been deleted.

"I made a mistake with a repost in my Instagram story, which used hurtful language. Like so many of us, I have been reeling with heartbreak. I pride myself on being on the side of humanity and peace," Dakhil said in a statement to Variety. "I'm so grateful to Jewish friends and colleagues who pointed out the implications and further educated me. I immediately took the repost down. I’m sorry for the pain I have caused."

Hollywood reacts to Israel-Hamas war: Celebrities call for ceasefire, decry civilian deaths

Contributing: John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz, Maureen Groppe, Naledi Ushe, KiMi Robinson and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Susan Sarandon dropped by agency after pro-Palestine rally appearance