Jewish News also reported that Pearce circulated material claiming the “top three pornography companies are owned by Jewish people”.
On Saturday, the actor – who was nominated this year for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for The Brutalist – took to X to announce he would be taking a break from social media following the backlash.
“Earlier this week, I issued an apology for sharing misleading and inaccurate posts and commentary on social media,” he tweeted.
“I meant every word of that apology but I recognise that meaningful action must accompany any apology. To prevent any further hurt, confusion or damage to others, I will be stepping back from social media for the time being.”
Pearce also came under fire in recent weeks for expressing his “disgust” with Israelis.
“I’ve never been so disgusted by a group of people in my life as I am by Israelis,” he wrote on November 21 in a since-deleted tweet.
“Every day, I witness their utter disregard and disdain for Palestinian life. It is shameful and sets humanity further backwards with every vile act like this.”
The Memento star also reportedly shared posts from an account with the handle Corefitnessbynaz2, which read: “Remember, when Zionists tell you Islam will destroy America … While several major Las Vegas casinos/hotels that have caused gambling addictions, debt and prostitution were created and owned by Jewish Zionists … The Zionists (not Jews) want you to fear the people who stand against the corruption they are creating.”
It’s not the first time Pearce has found himself in hot water for his social media posts.
In 2023, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert star caused outrage for arguing that non-transgender actors should be able to take on transgender roles on-screen.
“A question – if the only people allowed to play trans characters r trans folk, then r we also suggesting the only people trans folk can play r trans characters?” Pearce tweeted at the time. “Surely that will limit ur career as an actor? Isn’t the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside ur own world?”
It sparked a tense online debate, with some arguing that the very few available trans roles should go to trans actors, prompting a series of follow-up tweets from Pearce. The original tweet and the debate that followed was then deleted by the actor within the next week, before he issued an apology for not broaching the “complex and sensitive” subject appropriately.
“I see that raising the question of gender identity within the casting process on a platform like Twitter was not a good idea. For that I apologise, enormously,” he tweeted.
“The point I wanted to raise was one about defending the definition of acting and nothing more.”
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