'Your companies are profiting from hate': When Mila Kunis joined A-listers in Amazon and B&N controversy over antisemitic book

Mila Kunis Takes a Stand: The Amazon-B&N Controversy Revealed

Mila Kunis, famed for her roles and her voice, last year teamed up with other celebrities like Debra Messing and Mayim Bialik in a resolute protest against antisemitism. As reported by Rolling Stone last November, their target was the mega-retailers, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

The Heart of The Matter: An Antisemitic Offering?

The cause of the uproar was a documentary and book titled Hebrews to Negroes, which many claimed peddled damaging antisemitic narratives. Penned by Ronald Dalton Jr. in 2015 and adapted into a film in 2018, the offering caught the public eye when basketball player Kyrie Irving tweeted a link to the movie version. Given Irving's profile, the move caused shockwaves, especially due to the piece's inclusion of troubling antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Boldly addressing the giants of the retail world, the open letter didn't mince words: "Your companies are profiting from hate". It also drew attention to the work's dangerous misinformation that could influence a susceptible audience, from false claims of Jewish power to allegations that the Holocaust was a fabrication.

Retailer Reckoning: Taking Responsibility

Barnes and Noble, in a statement to Rolling Stone, clarified its stance, saying, "We do not knowingly carry books that constitute or condone hate speech of any type." They were quick to assure that they had removed the controversial book from their collection once they became aware of it.

However, the open letter highlighted a concerning trend. Following Irving's tweet, the documentary witnessed a spike in viewership on Amazon, and the book version skyrocketed in popularity on both the Amazon and B&N platforms.

The Aftermath: Apologies and Accountability

As the controversy thickened, Kyrie Irving found himself at the epicenter of a media storm. Initial reluctance to apologize only intensified the scrutiny. But, facing backlash, suspension from the Brooklyn Nets, and even losing a partnership with Nike, Irving eventually admitted his error. In a heartfelt statement, he conveyed, "To All Jewish families and Communities... I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize."

While the impact of this controversy will reverberate for some time, the power of the celebrity voice, led in part by Mila Kunis, against the propagation of hate has been clearly felt. In an era where misinformation can spread like wildfire, the importance of collective responsibility has never been clearer.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.