Jewish actress Odessa A’zion says she’s not a Zionist after IDF t-shirt controversy
Social media users speculate about ‘I Love LA’ actress’s political leanings after photo of her modeling shirt as a teen resurfaces; ‘debunking!! not a zio,’ she responds
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
JTA — Jewish actress Odessa A’zion appeared to push back this week on social media claims labeling her as a “Zionist,” after controversy swirled online over her political opinions.
The speculation about the 25-year-old actress’s political leanings first surfaced last week after users on X posted a screenshot of her modeling an Israeli Defense Forces shirt on Instagram in 2017, when she was around 17 years old.
While some users defended the actress, who is currently co-starring in the movie “Marty Supreme” and the HBO hit show “I Love LA,” pointing out her history of posting pro-Palestinian sentiments online, others were quick to condemn her.
Last week, A’zion pushed back on the chatter. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “debunking!! not a zio,” a common online abbreviation of “Zionist,” which many Jews consider derogatory.
On Tuesday, under a post from Hear Me Out News about the controversy, she added: “I do not support the IDF or Netanyahu in any way! I wish I had known the significance of that shirt when I was a kid, unfortunately I didn’t then, but I know now and it’s not something I support at all! Putting this to rest!”
A’zion, the daughter of Jewish actress and comedian Pamela Adlon, has said her stage name, which she adopted around 2020, is a combination of her mother’s name and her own middle name, Zion. Social media wags criticized her stage name following a red carpet appearance for the premiere of “Marty Supreme.”
Well she's a zionist https://t.co/FZrz0YkCCY pic.twitter.com/neAJcQOUCU
— jen (@bloomrush0) December 17, 2025
Entertainers have been under pressure to declare their allegiances since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the ensuing Gaza war. Some Jewish celebrities have said they support Israel’s right to exist or share an affinity with its people, even if they deeply disagree with the Israeli government and oppose the war. Many activists, however, reject Zionism in any form.
In 2022, Pamela Adlon, who is known for her roles in Louis CK’s sitcom “Louis” and as the creator and star of the critically acclaimed “Better Things” on FX, appeared on the celebrity genealogy show “Finding Your Roots,” where she learned that her great-great-grandfather was a famous rabbi.
The Times of Israel Community.