Amy Schumer feuds with Fil-Am celebrity Asia Jackson over Gaza war
The controversy began when Amy Schumer shared this comic on Instagram that satirized comments made by pro-Palestine supporters | Photo from amyschumer/Instagram
Los Angeles – Comedian Amy Schumer has recently faced backlash over direct messages she sent to Filipino-American actress and content creator Asia Jackson on Instagram.
Schumer, who has emerged as one of the most vocal celebrities in support of Israel’s assault on Gaza, has been accused of “harassing” Jackson.
The controversy began when Schumer shared a since-deleted comic on Instagram that satirized comments made by pro-Palestine supporters, including “Gazans rape Jewish girls only in self-defense” and “Proud of our rapist martyrs.”
Jackson mentioned Schumer’s post on X, formerly Twitter, when she discussed the public statements shared by sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, whose father is Palestinian.
“It’s so crazy to me how Bella & Gigi had to tiptoe around their statements and then Amy Schumer is like ‘Gazans are rapists’ and will still have a career.”
On Oct. 31, Jackson shared a screenshot of an Instagram direct message from Schumer: “Did something I post about my people being massacred upset you?”
Jackson responded: “The Islamophobia and generalization of Gazan people did.”
Screenshot of Jackson’s reply to Schumer
“Really sorry about that,” Schumer replied.
CNN reported that 1,400 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas, and more than 240 were taken hostage, according to a count by Israeli officials. According to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah, more than 10,000 Palestinians have died in the military campaign launched in response by Israel, the CNN report said.
On Nov. 1, Jackson shared screenshots of lengthier direct messages from Schumer, with the caption: “What a terrible way to wake up.”
The series of messages read: “People all over the world are in the streets yelling for the murder of my people. You are not educated about the history of the Jewish people and of the conflict.”
“Thanks for expressing what you were upset about. (I’d) like to express that (I) think you are antisemitic. Do you have any Jewish friends? If you do they are all scared right now. Frightened for their children for their lives.”
Schumer has emerged as one of the most vocal celebrities in support of Israel’s assault on Gaza | Photo from thedailybeast/Instagram
“What a cool video to post while I’m hoping someone doesn’t slit my [son’s] throat at school like they’ve been threatening to do and posting pictures of my house. But I deserve that right? One day when you realize how you acted in this moment I will accept your apology. All the best.”
“And when you use this exchange to try and raise your profile and get shine you are showing yourself.”
Fil-Am actress and content creator Asia Jackson mentions her Filipino mother in one of her posts: “I don’t let my mom walk around alone because she’s Asian like do you really think that you, a blonde blue eyed white woman, have some sort of claim on feeling unsafe” | Photo from Asia Jackson/Instagram
Jackson responded: “Very curious to hear how you know that I’m not educated about the history of the conflict? How do you know that? You literally just followed me, you don’t know who I am.”
Screenshot of the Instagram exchange between Schumer and Jackson
“How is it antisemitic to call you out for all the racist things you’ve said (since 2015)?”
Jackson took a swipe at Schumer in a series of posts: “I literally am an actress working in Hollywood. People in our industry have been fired for saying WAY less than I have. How absolutely delusional do you have to be to think I’m putting my entire career on the line for ‘shine.’”
”Imagine coming into a Black person’s DMs trying to lecture them about what it’s like to feel unsafe,” said Jackson, who is of African-American and Filipino descent.
In another post, Jackson mentioned her Filipino mother: “I don’t let my mom walk around alone because she’s Asian like do you really think that you, a blonde blue eyed white woman, have some sort of claim on feeling unsafe.”
Screenshot of exchange between Schumer and Jackson
Jackson’s comment stemmed from the rise of hate crimes targeting the Asian American community.
New research published by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, revealed that anti-Asian hate crime increased by 339 percent in 2021 compared to the year before. The report also found that African Americans remained the most targeted group across most US cities.
Concluding her thread, Jackson wrote: “Mind you, (Schumer is) sending all these messages from her mansion while the IDF just bombed a refugee camp.”
