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Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has publicly opposed calls to boycott Israeli film institutions, stating that such actions would breach the company's internal anti-discrimination policies.
"Warner Bros Discovery is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for its employees, collaborators, and other stakeholders," a company spokesperson explained.
"Our policies prohibit discrimination of any kind, including discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or ancestry. We believe a boycott of Israeli film institutions violates our policies. While we respect the rights of individuals and groups to express their views and advocate for causes, we will continue to align our business practices with the requirements of our policies and the law."
The statement comes in response to a growing movement among artistes and filmmakers calling for a boycott of Israeli cultural institutions. Last month, a group called Film Workers for Palestine launched a pledge urging industry professionals to avoid collaborating with Israeli film bodies "implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."
The petition, signed by over a hundred high-profile figures including Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Javier Bardem, accuses Israeli institutions of "whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them."
However, legal experts have warned that signing or enforcing such a boycott could carry legal risks. The UK Lawyers for Israel recently cautioned that the pledge violates the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on nationality or ethnicity, making it "highly likely to be a litigation risk." Similar concerns have been echoed by the Louis D Brandeis Centre for Human Rights Under Law in Washington, DC, which noted that "numerous federal and state civil rights laws plainly prohibit" such boycotts in the United States.
Beyond legal implications, industry observers say the controversy exposes deep divisions within the global film community over how to balance political activism and cultural engagement.