Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg said in an interview on 鈥淭he Late Show with Stephen Colbert鈥� that antisemitism today has risen to the point where it is 鈥渘o longer lurking, but standing proud鈥� like it was in Germany during the 1930s.
Spielberg was discussing his latest film, 鈥淭he Fabelmans,鈥� with Stephen Colbert; the film is a semi-autobiographical movie in which a character based on a young Spielberg is subjected to antisemitic bullying in high school. Colbert asked Spielberg if he was surprised at the rise of 鈥減ublic antisemitism鈥� today; he replied it was 鈥渧ery, very surprising.鈥�
鈥淎ntisemitism has always been there, it鈥檚 either been just around the corner and slightly out of sight but always lurking, or it has been much more overt like in Germany in the 鈥�30s,鈥� Spielberg said, per . 鈥淏ut not since Germany in the 鈥�30s have I witnessed antisemitism no longer lurking, but standing proud with hands on hips like Hitler and Mussolini, kind of daring us to defy it. I鈥檝e never experienced this in my entire life, especially in this country.鈥�
He added that 鈥渢he marginalizing of people that aren鈥檛 part of some kind of a majority race is something that has been creeping up on us for years and years and years.鈥� 鈥淗ate became a kind of membership to a club that has gotten more members than I ever thought was possible in America,鈥� the filmmaker said, 鈥渁nd hate and antisemitism go hand in hand. You can鈥檛 separate one from the other.鈥� However, Spielberg told Colbert he believes Anne Frank was correct in thinking 鈥渢hat most people are good.鈥� 鈥淚 think essentially at our core, there is goodness and there is empathy,鈥� he said.
鈥淣ot since Germany in the '30s have I witnessed antisemitism, no longer lurking but standing proud with hands on hips like Hitler and Mussolini 鈥� kind of daring us to defy it. I鈥檝e never experienced this in my entire life. Especially in this country.鈥� 鈥� Steven Spielberg
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow)
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted that Spielberg鈥檚 words were 鈥渋ncredibly poignant鈥� and thanked Colbert for 鈥渄istinguishing between public and private #antisemitism.鈥� 鈥淎ntisemitism has always been there, but right now more people feel emboldened to act on their hate,鈥� Greenblatt wrote.
Incredibly poignant words from the brilliant Steven Spielberg. Thank you, , for asking the question and for distinguishing between public and private . Antisemitism has always been there, but right now more people feel emboldened to act on their hate.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL)
End Jew Hatred tweeted, 鈥淪pielberg has it right. Jew-hatred has always been hiding in plain sight, slowly becoming normalized and mainstream. Whether it comes from people shouting Nazi salutes or demanding to 鈥榞lobalize the Intifada,鈥� we see Jew-hatred in the open. Disgustingly, violently standing proud.鈥� They added: 鈥淲e need to confront Jew-hatred by calling it what it is. The fight for our freedom and our civil rights means de-normalizing hatred by challenging it. WE are the ones who need to stand proud, armed linked together, defiant in the face of evil.鈥�
We need to confront Jew-hatred by calling it what it is. The fight for our freedom and our civil rights means de-normalizing hatred by challenging it. WE are the ones who need to stand proud, armed linked together, defiant in the face of evil.
— End Jew Hatred (@EndJewHatred)
Spielberg established The USC Shoah Foundation in 1994, a year after his award-winning film Schindler鈥檚 List came out. The foundation recorded and preserves the world鈥檚 largest vault of Holocaust survivor testimonies.
This article has been updated.
