Over 1,000 entertainment leaders sign letter supporting Israeli inclusion in Eurovision

More than 1,000 entertainment industry leaders, including Gene Simmons of Kiss, Mayim Bialik, and Helen Mirren, have signed a letter supporting Israeli participation in the Eurovision Song Contest next month.

The letter rejects calls for a boycott of Israel and stresses that music should unite rather than divide nations and people worldwide. The initiative comes after Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain decided to boycott the Eurovision Contest due to Israel’s participation.

“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter stated, referring to the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 into Gaza.

“We believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music,” the letter emphasized.

Gene Simmons expressed support for Israel by highlighting music as a unifying language.

“Music unites people from all backgrounds. It’s the one language that everyone can understand. It’s a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world,” Gene Simmons said.

Entertainment executive Scooter Braun echoed similar sentiments:

“Music is a place for unity, not division. It is a language that should always bring us together. Artists should never be discriminated against for who they are, who they love, or where they’re born. These boycott efforts do nothing but distract from the uplifting and unifying power of music – something we need now more than ever.”

Mayim Bialik condemned anti-Israel boycott calls that largely ignore the events of Oct. 7.

“After a horrendous, violent attack on Israeli civilians, calls for boycotts and excluding Israeli artists from international events simply because they are Israeli are abhorrent and shameful. Targeting Israeli musicians in this way tarnishes the unifying spirit that is Eurovision,” she argued.

Other signatories from the culture and entertainment world included Amy Schumer, Liev Schreiber, Mila Kunis, Selma Blair, Julianna Margulies, Ginnifer Goodwin, Debra Messing, Patricia Heaton, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jeremy Piven, Tom Arnold, Rebecca De Mornay, Joshua Malina and Brett Gelman. Among the musicians were Boy George, Matisyahu, David Draiman, James Maslow, Diane Warren, Jon Ondrasik, Laurent Amir Haddad (France’s Eurovision 2016 representative) and Israeli singer Noa Kirel, who represented her country in 2023.

In December 2025, the Eurovision Song Contest approved Israel’s participation in the upcoming contest in Vienna this May. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, at the time, praised the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for resisting pressure from anti-Israel governments and activists.

"I welcome the decision of the European Broadcasting Union. I am ashamed of those countries that chose to boycott a music competition like Eurovision because of Israel’s participation. The disgrace is upon them," Sa’ar said, referring to Spain, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Israel has participated in the Eurovision since 1973 and won four times. Last year, Israel was represented by the singer and Nova Music Festival massacre survivor Yuval Raphael, who secured a respectable second place in the prominent annual competition after securing the largest popular vote.