Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen has fumed TikTok is “creating the biggest anti-Semitic movement since the Nazis” in a meeting with bosses.
The Jewish actor, along with several other stars, confronted app bosses in a private call, accusing them of allowing the platform to be flooded with a torrent of pro-Hamas videos amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Also present on the call was Amy Schumer and Debra Messing.
Videos have been spotted on TikTok of young influencers reacting to Osama bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’, which attempted to justify the horrific terrorist attacks on 9/11 and attacking Israel.
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According to the New York Times, Baron Cohen said on the call: “If you think back to October 7, the reason why Hamas were able to behead young people and rape women was they were fed images from when they were small kids that led them to hate.”
(Image: WireImage)
He accused the app of allowing vile content to have a platform which could influence young people around the world, telling the head of operations: “Shame on you.” App users previously sent an open letter to TikTok, revealing their own heartbreaking experiences on the platform.
Some claimed they had seen comments on the app like “Hitler was right” and “I hope you end up like Anne Frank.” They claimed TikTok has done nothing to stop the flood of comments.
Head of operations Adam Presser says there is no “magic button” to fix the concerns raised, but agreed there was “truth” to Sacha Baron Cohen’s comments about companies taking a more direct approach to taking down hateful comments.
(Image: Getty Images)
A company spokesman said: “We recognise this is an incredibly difficult and fearful time for millions of people around the world and in our TikTok community. Our leadership has been meeting with creators, civil society, human rights experts and stakeholders to listen to their experiences and feedback on how TikTok can remain a place for community, discovery and sharing authentically.”
Cohen has previously fumed against the use of social media to promote hate speech. He said during the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington: “The idea that people of colour are inferior is a lie. The idea that Jews are dangerous and all-powerful is a lie. The idea that women are not equal to men is a lie. The idea that queer people are a threat to our children is a lie.”
(Image: Getty Images)
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He added: “Today, the forces of hate have a new weapon that was not available in 1963: Social media. They’ve gone from Klan rallies to chatrooms.”
Addressing the crowd, he added: “We call on people everywhere to join us in standing up to hate, conspiracies, and lies, especially on social media.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
