John Malkovich has canceled a planned performance in Israel next year over what he described as the publication of an unauthorized press release to announce the show.
Malkovich was scheduled to perform The Music Critic in Tel Aviv next year. A press release was published last week quoting Malkovich saying he was “thrilled to return to Israel” and looked “forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity.”
Malkovich has said he did not make those statements and was only aware of the announcement after reading press reports. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported on the story, the actor said it was all published without his agreement.
“A PR company hired by the Israeli promoter drafted a quote for the article that was attributed to me, though I never made the statements that were quoted, nor was I consulted before they were printed,” Malkovich said. “I did not utter these phrases, and they most certainly are not approved by me, nor do they reflect my feelings. The fact that they were printed as direct quotes from me is unacceptable and untenable. For this reason, I have decided I cannot participate in the Tel Aviv performance.”
Malkovich added: “My appearance in any country, even my own, does not constitute approval of said country’s policies, nor actions, nor its elected or unelected leaders. My appearances would also not condone nor mean that I am in supposed ‘solidarity’ with any particular political cause, nor with the killing of innocents, nor with any acts of terrorism, nor any other kind of barbarity.”
The Israeli PR firm has since apologized for incorrectly attributing quotes to Malkovich.
“Mr. Malkovich did not make, provide, authorize or approve this statement, nor was it approved by his representatives,” the firm said in the statement. “We sincerely apologize to Mr. Malkovich and his representatives for the incorrect attribution and regret that this occurred.”
Malkovich is coming fresh off a buzzy showing in Venice, where his latest feature, Wild Horse Nine, landed a strong 14-minute ovation and quickly became the subject of awards chatter.
