Sarah Silverman: Better to get a Hollywood star than have to sew one on
Jewish comedian mentions recent rise in anti-Semitism while accepting star on Hollywood walk of fame
JTA — Comedian Sarah Silverman struck a decidedly uncomedic tone in an acceptance speech after being granted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, warning of resurgent anti-Semitism in the US.
“In a scary time when anti-Semitic crime is up 57 percent since 2016, it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be given a star and not have to sew it on my clothes,” the Jewish comedian said after her star was unveiled on Friday.
Silverman repeated the line — a reference to the yellow stars that Nazis forced Jews to wear during World War II — later that day in an appearance on Bill Maher’s HBO show.
“I don’t know if that’s gallows humor or just it’s-funny-because-it’s-true humor,” she said on “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
Silverman appeared to be referring to a report by the Anti-Defamation League that showed anti-Semitic incidents spiked in 2017, with a 57 percent increase since the previous year.
That number includes more than 160 bomb threats sent to Jewish community centers in early 2017 by a Jewish teen from Israel.
