Jamie Foxx Posts Antisemitic Message On Social Media: A New Take On An Ancient Anti-Jewish Lie

In early August, Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx shared a cryptic post on Instagram, saying “They killed this dude name Jesus,” and soon shared another user’s post which read, in part: “Judas showed His Self!!!” While Foxx soon apologized and deleted the posts, saying he meant no harm and that he was referring to one person in particular, he was tapping into centuries of antisemitic hate, particularly relating to claims of deicide (accusations that Jews killed Jesus, and bear a collective responsibility).

Notwithstanding Foxx’s apology, his post was a reminder of the potent nature of how quickly antisemitic propaganda can spread online, and how even ancient messages can find receptive audiences in the modern era.