The Simon Wiesenthal Center has forcefully condemned Variety following the outlet’s online feature with streamer Hasan Piker, which reignited heated debate over Piker’s remarks about Gal Gadot and the ongoing Gal Gadot controversy. The response quickly unfolded on social media and has sharpened existing divides on the role of media in high-profile international disputes involving Israel, antisemitism, and public figures.
Variety’s Interview Prompts Controversy Over Gal Gadot
Hasan Piker, an outspoken Twitch personality known for his critique of Israel, was recently interviewed by Variety. During their conversation, Piker addressed a petition initiated earlier in the year that called for the Academy to withdraw its invitation to Gal Gadot at the Oscars. The petition, endorsed by notable figures such as director Mira Nair, who is also the mother of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, cited Gadot’s public support for Israel’s military actions against Palestinians.
When asked about the fairness of the petition against Gadot, Piker made a series of blunt statements about her career and political stances:
“I think she should be banned from the Oscars for being a dogs—t actress. I think she has no business being there for the crime of what she has done to not only the DC franchise, but really any movie she’s been a part of,”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
He continued by describing the public’s perception of Gadot’s role:
“All jokes aside, Gal Gadot serves an important role in normalizing Israel as not a fascist ethno-state, but instead a place where a lot of beautiful women come from,”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
Piker also critiqued broader cultural narratives, adding:
“And those beautiful women happen to serve in the IDF, because there’s also this weird sexualization of the forces as well that takes place, and it plays another role in normalizing Israel and its activities and actions, and whitewashing it.”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
These comments quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions and amplifying the Gal Gadot controversy across social media platforms.
Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Sharp Critique of Variety
Almost immediately after Variety promoted its interview with Hasan Piker on social media, the Simon Wiesenthal Center—long recognized for its advocacy against antisemitism—publicly rebuked the publication. In a post on X, the organization issued the following statement:
“Breaking news: ‘Known antisemite slams Israeli actress.’ @Variety, this is what you call news? Why elevate @hasanthehun, a terror supporter who claims that ‘America deserved 9/11’? Is your mission to inform or inflame?”
— Simon Wiesenthal Center, Human Rights Organization
This direct rebuke captured the emotional intensity and frustration surrounding the media’s decision to provide a platform to highly divisive opinions, particularly concerning sensitive issues related to Israel, the DC franchise, and accusations of antisemitism.
Past Claims and Media Refusals to Comment
Variety declined to offer a statement in response to the criticism. This incident follows coverage from other major outlets including GQ and The New York Times, which have also reported on Piker’s controversial viewpoints.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is not the only body to charge Piker with antisemitism. In 2024, Congressman Ritchie Torres from New York sent a letter urging Twitch to investigate an increase in antisemitic content on its platform, specifically referencing several of Piker’s videos.
Piker, meanwhile, responded to past accusations in the Variety interview:
“These last two years, I’ve been called antisemitic. I abhor antisemitism, and I’ve spent my entire professional media career combating it. I just happen to be anti-Israel, and that makes me a far greater threat than the likes of Nick Fuentes because they know he’s a Nazi,”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
He further stated the following regarding his criticism of Israel:
“There has never been a moment in my life where I ever considered Israel to be anything but a criminal enterprise.”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
Piker’s Past Remarks and Their Ongoing Fallout
Piker also addressed longstanding accusations tied to his 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11. The statement resulted in a temporary Twitch ban and ongoing controversy. Reflecting on his words, he explained in the same interview:
“I was talking about blowback, a theory that has academic consensus at this point, that our meddling in the affairs of the Middle East has led to the blowback of 9/11. This wasn’t to say 9/11 is good. It’s a horrifying act of terror where 3,000 New Yorkers were slaughtered and even many more with the first responders that tried to save as many people as possible. Yet it was, of course, weaponized against me.”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
Reacting to Variety’s coverage, Piker posted on Instagram:
“Can’t believe they put my unfiltered takes in an article!!”
— Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer
Significance and Future Implications
The intersection of high-profile personalities, international conflicts, and media coverage continues to provoke intense reactions, exemplified by the Gal Gadot controversy. As organizations such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center and lawmakers like Ritchie Torres call for attention to the use and potential abuse of major media platforms, Variety faces mounting criticism over whose voices are amplified in sensitive debates. The episode also signals ongoing questions for streaming platforms, public officials, and advocacy groups as deeply divisive rhetoric spreads rapidly online, posing ongoing challenges for responsible journalism and social discourse.
Breaking news: "Known antisemite slams Israeli actress." @Variety, this is what you call news? Why elevate @hasanthehun, a terror supporter who claims that "America deserved 9/11"? Is your mission to inform or inflame? https://t.co/vQh8VjHoKE
— Simon Wiesenthal Center (@simonwiesenthal) November 13, 2025
