LOS ANGELES, CA – Actor Selma Blair issued an apology on Tuesday for making what she called a mistake in judgment that led to comments being criticized as Islamophobic, which then went viral.
In a post on Instagram, Blair admitted to inadvertently conflating Muslims with Radical Islamists and fundamentalists, leading to unintended hurt to countless people. This came after sparking controversy with a comment on a social media post by Abraham Hamra, an immigration reform advocate. Hamra criticized Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Cori Bush, D-Mo., for voting against a measure aimed at preventing anyone involved in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel from immigrating to the U.S.
Tlaib defended the measure as redundant with existing federal law, while Bush called it an empty messaging bill by Republicans to target immigrants and incite anti-Palestinian hate. Blair acknowledged her mistake as soon as it was brought to her attention and promptly deleted the comment.
The now-deleted comment by Blair called for the deportation of those supporting terrorism, and made critical remarks about Islam, triggering backlash from users and the Council on American–Islamic Relations, an advocacy group. Despite being Jewish, Blair’s comment drew attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which had carried out the Oct. 7 attacks leading to civilian casualties in Gaza.
In her apology, Blair expressed dedication to tolerance and peace for all, and extended her regrets to the Muslim community for the offense caused. She emphasized her commitment to doing better in the future.
This incident highlights the ease with which hate and misinformation can spread online, as well as the potential for inflammatory remarks to cause real harm and incite further division. Blair’s apology and acknowledgment of her mistake are important steps in addressing the repercussions of her initial comment and working towards reconciliation and understanding.