The Tribeca Film Festival has condemned disturbing jokes that comedian Elon Gold and U.S. influencer Lizzy Savetsky made on the red carpet about the alleged systemic rape of Palestinian people.
In a clip that has sparked widespread outrage on social media, Gold told Savetsky on the Manhattan red carpet Thursday that the Gidi Dar-directed film The Wedding Entertainer, in which he stars, was filmed in Israel.
He told Savetsky: “It’s a really big deal, and for a film made in Israel, that’s pretty damn cool. I was only raped by two Israeli dogs.”
Savetsky replied, “I thought they only raped Palestinians.” Gold responded, “No, I got also a dog.”
In a statement shared in response to backlash over the remarks, the organization said: “The Tribeca Festival is aware of the concerns raised regarding a clip circulating on social media and unequivocally condemns the offensive and unacceptable remarks made by Elon Gold and Lizzy Savetsky at the premiere of The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan).”
“Sexual violence and human suffering should never be mocked or minimized,” the festival continued. “The comments do not reflect the Tribeca Festival’s values, and we regret the hurt and offense they have caused. We have not been able to reach the filmmakers.”
Neither Gold nor Savetsky immediately returned The Independent’s requests for comment.
Savetsky was not in the film and did not have media credentials to attend Tribeca Film Festival, but was invited to the premiere by the film’s team, The Independent has learned.
The comedian and influencer, who are both vocal pro-Israel supporters, were referring to a May 11 New York Times article that alleged that Israeli soldiers and prison guards used widespread sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners.
In the opinion piece by veteran journalist Nicholas Kristof, titled “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians,” the columnist included testimony by Palestinian people that included allegations of bestiality, rape and sexual assault by Israeli soldiers.
After the piece garnered speculation about its accuracy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to sue the NYT and Kristof for defamation. The NYT defended the article and said that Kristof had verified his reporting with several trusted sources.
In a statement on Instagram after the video of her and Gold began circulating, Savetsky fired back at the NYT and accused the outlet of spreading false claims about Jewish people after a reporter asked her for further comment on her red carpet remarks.
After Hamas’s October 7 attacks killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in Israel in 2023, human rights organizations have reported that Israeli soldiers, guards and medical staff have committed systemic wartime sexual violence and torture against Palestinian people during the ongoing Gaza war. The death toll of Israel’s war in Gaza has surpassed 75,000 people.
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