Producers Apologize for Falsely Attributing Warm Quote to John Malkovich Ahead of Israel Show
The Israeli producers of John Malkovich's upcoming show in Tel Aviv have apologized and retracted a warm quote falsely attributed to the Hollywood actor, citing a misunderstanding.
The announcement last Wednesday that Hollywood actor John Malkovich will perform in Israel this April with his show The Music Critic was accompanied by an enthusiastic quote attributed to him. The statement read: "I am excited to return to Israel and will be very happy to meet the warm Israeli audience again, to whom I feel great closeness and identification. I hope to meet you happy and optimistic! Sending you much love."
However, on Monday morning, the Israeli production team of the show announced that they had made a mistake and the quote was incorrect.
Venice Success and International Attention
In the days following the initial announcement, Malkovich attended the Venice Film Festival for the screening of his new film Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh. The film, in which he stars alongside Sam Rockwell, Parker Posey, and Steve Buscemi, received a standing ovation lasting approximately 13 minutes. Malkovich's performance has garnered critical acclaim and early awards-season buzz, including speculation about a potential Oscar nomination.
Simultaneously, news of Malkovich's upcoming performance in Israel was covered by international entertainment outlets. The Hollywood Reporter published an article about the actor's return to Tel Aviv and the planned show, referencing his supposed anticipation of meeting the Israeli public. The news also sparked reactions on social media, including criticism of his decision to perform in Israel amid ongoing calls for a cultural boycott.
The Production's Correction and Apology
On Monday morning, the Israeli production team sent a new notice to the media requesting the removal of the quotes attributed to Malkovich. They asked to replace them with a corrected statement from the Israeli producer, Alon Yurik.
In the original press release last week, Yurik had stated:
"It is exciting to see Malkovich's warm response to performing in Israel. I view the show producers' approval of their arrival in Israel as another trust-building step in the aspiration to return major international shows to Israel."
The revised statement issued by Yurik on Monday reads:
"I welcome the arrival of actor John Malkovich to Israel. The show has received high praise worldwide, and I am sure it will thrill the audience in Israel as well. I wish to clarify that in the original press release, an error occurred, and an incorrect quote was attributed to Malkovich due to a misunderstanding. I take this opportunity to apologize for it."
