Selma Blair has been forced to apologize for posting an Islamophobic tirade saying that “Islam has destroyed Muslim countries” — and only came to the US to “destroy minds.”
The Jewish actress sparked widespread condemnation over her since-deleted comment to a post by immigration reform advocate Abraham Hamra, assailing Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush for voting against a measure that would prevent anyone who took part in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel from immigrating to the US.
“Thank you very much,” Blair, 51, wrote after Hamra called Tlaib a “liar,” “moron” and “hateful anti-Semite,” according to the Daily Beast reported.
“Deport all these terrorist supporting goons,” she wrote.
“Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroy minds. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate,” she reportedly wrote.
Social media users and The Council on American–Islamic Relations, America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, accused the actress of being Islamophobic.
“Based on the hateful and ignorant remarks that Ms. Blair made, we doubt that she has ever engaged in any meaningful interactions with her Muslim colleagues in Hollywood or other members of the American Muslim community,” CAIR’s Edward Ahmed Mitchell wrote.
In a mea culpa on Instagram on Tuesday, Blair, who is Jewish, said that she was using the blowback “to learn and better understand how words matter.”
“I mistakenly and inadvertently conflated Muslims with Radical Islamists and fundamentalists, a terrible err in my words, and resulted in hurting countless people I never meant to, and I deeply regret this.
“As soon as my error was brought to my attention, I deleted the comment,” she wrote.
“Hate and misinformation are amplified so easily these days. This time by my own hands.
“In this instance, I erred in my writing and I fully recognize how I contributed to the Muslim community being undretsandably very upset,” Blair continued.
“I respect and love all peace-loving communities, all over the world. It was my Muslim friends who helped educate and show me the way,” she added. “I am committed to paying forward their love and understanding.”
The “Legally Blonde” and “Hellboy” actress said that wherever she goes, she tries “to create branches to hold onto, bridges to meet on for all marginalized communities.
“I am dedicated to tolerance and peace for all who want it – not hate,” she added.
