Tribeca condemns – Tribeca Film Festival organizers condemned Elon Gold and Lizzy Savetsky after a clip circulated online in which Gold joked about being raped “by two Israeli dogs.” The festival said the comments are offensive and unacceptable, regretted the hurt they caused, a
On Sunday, as a clip continued to spread online, Tribeca Film Festival organizers moved quickly to respond—condemning Elon Gold and influencer Lizzy Savetsky for remarks the festival called “offensive and unacceptable.”
The statement, shared on social media, came after “The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan)” star Gold made the joke at the premiere of the film. The clip, the festival said, was circulating on social media and triggered concerns.
“The Tribeca Festival is aware of the concerns raised regarding a clip circulating on social media and unequivocally condemns the offensive and unacceptable remarks made by Elon Gold and Lizzy Savetsky at the premiere of ‘The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan),’” the statement reads.
The festival added: “Sexual violence and human suffering should never be mocked or minimized. The comments do not reflect the Tribeca Festival’s values, and we regret the hurt and offense they have caused. We have not been able to reach the filmmakers.”
In the conversation with Savetsky, Gold said the movie was filmed in Israel. “It’s a really big deal, and for a film made in Israel, that’s pretty damn cool. I was only raped by two Israeli dogs,” he said.
Savetsky, who is described as an outspoken supporter of Israel, replied: “I thought they only raped Palestinians.” Gold then added: “No, I got also a dog.”
The backlash landed against a backdrop of international scrutiny tied to Israel-Palestinian detention allegations. In May. the United Nations called on Israel “to review and revise its detention laws. policies and practices” following allegations of abuse and torture by Israeli guards against Palestinians in custody.
A United Nations report cited by the statement “counted 52 incidents of different forms of torture or other ill-treatment. and another 33 incidents of sexual torture and other sexualised ill-treatment.” Those incidents. it said. reportedly include “severe beatings. stress positions. excessive restraints. electrocution. sleep deprivation. malnutrition and starvation. prolonged incommunicado detention. and inhumane and degrading conditions marked by overcrowding. unhygienic conditions and spread of diseases. denial of medical care. and lack of sunlight and ventilation.”.
The report also includes allegations of sexual torture, saying “Eleven male detainees reported beatings, grabbing, electrocuting and mauling by dogs, of their genitals. Humiliating and degrading strip searches, including sexual gazing at and intimidating female and male detainees, were recorded.”
By condemning Gold and Savetsky’s remarks and saying it has been unable to reach the filmmakers, Tribeca has drawn a clear line between a joke told at a premiere—and a subject that, for many, is tied to real accounts of sexual violence and detention abuse.
Tribeca Film Festival Elon Gold Lizzy Savetsky The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan) rape joke Israel Palestinians United Nations detention report social media backlash