Sam Husseini
“Dolly Parton apologizes for remarks about Jews” by Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 1994: NEW YORK (JTA) Country singer and actress Dolly Parton has apologized for comments she made in an interview with Vogue magazine about Jews in Hollywood. Parton told the magazine during an interview that she had thought about doing a television series about a country singer who turns into a gospel singer. But, she said, she abandoned the idea because “everyone's afraid to touch anything that’s religious because most of the people out here [in Hollywood) are Jewish, and it’s a frightening thing for them to promote Christianity.” Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote Parton a letter in which he said that her comments invoke “the old anti-Semitic stereotype of Jewish control of Hollywood and hostility towards Christianity.” Foxman added that because she was a celebrity, Parton’s comments could have great influence on many Americans. Parton responded to Foxman’s letter, apologizing for her remarks. “I know from personal experience how stereotypes can hurt and I regret that my words could have conjured up an impression of Jewish ‘control’ of Hollywood,” wrote Parton. “Like all Americans of good will, I recognize the importance of rejecting prejudice and strengthening the ideal of community and mutual respect among all our people.” Parton added that her comments were “misinterpreted by a number of people.” https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/jweekly/1994/03/11/article/123/?e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxTI--------------1
