Coronation Street star Maureen Lipman has criticized fellow actress Miriam Margolyes, referring to her as a “shock jock” and “self-publicist” due to her outspoken views on Palestine. Miriam, known for her role in Harry Potter, made controversial comments about Israeli forces, labeling them as “vicious” and accusing the government of being “genocidal.”
Maureen, who plays Evelyn Plummer on the show, expressed her disapproval of Miriam’s statements in a column where she discussed a conversation she had with another Jewish actress. While both actresses condemned the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces in Palestine, Maureen singled out Miriam for her approach, describing the other actress’ opinions as “thoughtful, balanced, and respectful.”
Miriam’s remarks in a recent interview with the Big Issue, where she drew parallels between Israeli actions and the Holocaust, sparked further criticism from Maureen. In her column in The Spectator, Maureen dismissed Miriam as a provocative figure and disapproved of her comparison of Israelis to Nazis and the Gaza conflict to the Holocaust.
Responding to the backlash, Miriam shared Maureen’s comments on her Facebook page, acknowledging the disagreement. Despite being awarded an OBE for her contributions to drama, Miriam has faced calls for her title to be revoked following her contentious statements. Organizations like the Campaign Against Antisemitism have condemned Miriam’s remarks, describing them as “repugnant” and calling for her to be ostracized from the entertainment industry.
In an interview with the Sunday National, Miriam emphasized her concern for both Israel and the Palestinian people, distancing her criticism from antisemitism. However, critics argue that her platform should not be used to spread what they perceive as anti-Jewish sentiment.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism intends to appeal to the Honours Forfeiture Committee and BAFTA to strip Miriam of her accolades. The controversy surrounding Miriam’s comments has reignited debates on the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the role of public figures in expressing their views responsibly.
