Penelope-Bardem face furore over ‘genocide’ comment

Penelope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem are reportedly under fire from top Hollywood executives following their support for Gaza, where they signed an open letter condemning the actions of Israel as tantamount to “genocide”.

The couple, who were among 100 film professionals to sign the open Spanish letter calling on the European Union to end Israel’s military operation in Gaza, along with director Pedro Almodovar, have sparked anger in Hollywood, reportedly called their careers in to question, the Independent reported.

One top executive has also said that he was “furious at Javier and Penelope” and queried whether he would want to work with the couple again. However, Cruz’s subsequent clarification of the letter said that her “only wish and intention” in signing it was to promote “peace in both Israel and Gaza”.