Sarah Silverman Says Hollywood Has A “Jewface” Problem
- Funny
- Offensive
October 5th, 2021 – Comedian Sarah Silverman has come out swinging against what she calls Hollywood’s “Jewface” problem. Silverman defined “Jewface” as:
“It’s defined as when a non-Jew portrays a Jew with the Jewishness front and center, often with makeup or changing of features, big fake nose, all the New York-y or Yiddish-y inflection. And in a time when the importance of representation is seen as so essential and so front and center, why does ours constantly get breached even today in the thick of it?”
Silverman went on to say:
“There’s this long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews, and not just playing people who happen to be Jewish but people whose Jewishness is their whole being. One could argue, for instance, that a Gentile [a non-Jew] playing Joan Rivers correctly would be doing what is actually called ‘Jewface.’”
The actress went on it further detail in the most recent episode of her self-titled podcast:
“Right now, representation fucking matters. It has to also finally matter for Jews as well. Especially Jewish women.”
