Ynon Kreiz links business leadership to fighting antisemitism
At the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Nov. 11 gala, the Skydance co-CEO said defending Israel does not put it beyond criticism and called business leadership a moral responsibility.
Skydance co-CEO Ynon Kreiz received the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s 2026 Humanitarian Award at the Beverly Wilshire gala in Beverly Hills on Nov. 11, according to Deadline. In his acceptance speech, he said business leaders have a responsibility to use their platforms against hatred while making clear that defending Israel does not place it beyond criticism.
- Kreiz said, “Defending Israel does not mean Israel is beyond criticism.”
- He described the fight against antisemitism as a fight against hatred in any form.
- He said business leadership carries moral responsibility because leaders and companies hold platforms that can be used against hatred.
Deadline reported that David Ellison, Gal Gadot and Jeffrey Katzenberg presented the award. Kreiz thanked Ellison for his “bold stand for Israel and the Jewish people,” then said, “We recognize that business leadership comes with moral responsibility.” He connected that responsibility to the platforms held by himself, Ellison and Skydance. Referring to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, Kreiz said, “Ancient hatred has found new platforms on which to spread.”
Kreiz’s remarks before the gala
Before the ceremony, Kreiz told The Hollywood Reporter that he agreed with the Ellisons’ response to an Instagram post by Mark Ruffalo criticizing the merger and Israel. “I very much agree with what the Ellisons put out,” he said. Asked by the publication whether he would work with Ruffalo, whose HBO procedural Task falls under Kreiz’s purview, he replied: “This is not about one actor or one story.”
Other remarks and awards at the ceremony
Deadline reported that Gadot spoke before Kreiz and warned about hatred of Jews spreading. She asked what would happen if people grew accustomed to hearing and seeing hatred and looking away. The Hollywood Reporter quoted her asking, “If people get used to hearing and seeing hatred and looking the other way, then where does it end?”
Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Jim Berk told The Hollywood Reporter that the board selected Kreiz for the honor months before his Skydance offer, recognizing his lifetime of work and his openness about being Israeli and Jewish. Deadline also reported that Bianna Golodryga received the Jewish Heritage Award and spoke about her family history and faith. Elica Le Bon received the Medal of Valor for her activism against antisemitism.
What the gala’s awards mean
Kreiz’s remarks linked opposition to antisemitism with a distinction about political speech: he said support for Israel does not exempt the country from criticism. His comments about business responsibility focused on the influence held by Skydance and its leaders. Berk’s account to The Hollywood Reporter places Kreiz’s selection in the context of the center’s recognition of his career and public identity.
Deadline said the previous year’s gala raised $4.3 million and that organizers aimed to exceed that amount this year. The report did not give a final total for the Nov. 11 event.
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What this story rests on
2 sources from 2 organisations: 2 newspaper or magazine.
- 1) Skydance's Ynon Kreiz Talks "Moral Responsibility" & Combating Antisemitism At Simon Wiesenthal GalaDeadline · deadline.comNewspaper or magazine
- 2Gal Gadot Tearfully Warns Against Rising Antisemitism at Simon Wiesenthal Center GalaThe Hollywood Reporter · hollywoodreporter.comNewspaper or magazine
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