Deleted: Anti-Israel Boycott Forces Hollywood to Erase 'Wicked' Promotion for Tel Aviv

The cultural boycott movement targeting Israel has escalated, reaching one of the most anticipated film releases of the period: "Wicked: Part Two." Distributors faced swift and intense online pressure after promoting an upcoming musical special related to the film's release with specific broadcast times in Israel. The backlash from pro-Palestinian activists was so fierce that the official promotional post was deleted from the film's social media accounts.

Despite the move to scrub the Israeli broadcast details from social media, Israeli cable providers HOT and yes have confirmed that the special will still be aired as planned.

The Controversy: Promotion Sparks Outrage

The incident centered on "Wicked: One Wonderful Night," a two-hour musical celebration produced by NBC featuring the stars of the film, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and set to premiere two new songs from the upcoming soundtrack. The special was filmed at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and is scheduled to air in the U.S. on November 6 (and stream on Peacock the following day).

The special was slated for broadcast in Israel on November 7 via local cable companies HOT and yes.

Official teasers and trailers posted on the social media accounts of NBC and Universal Studios included information detailing the broadcast times in Israel. Almost immediately, the promotion ignited a firestorm of protest across platforms like Instagram and Threads.

Online Backlash Forces Retreat

What began as fan discussion quickly transformed into organized calls for a boycott and cancellation of the Israeli broadcast. Users, many identifying as pro-Palestinian, flooded the comments sections and shared screenshots of the Israeli airtimes, expressing strong disappointment.

Comments directed at the film's official Instagram account included:

In response to the rapid escalation of the online campaign, the official Wicked Instagram account removed the promotional post that included the Israeli broadcast details.

Protesting users celebrated the takedown, posting comments on other threads such as, "Thank you for deleting that," and "Please try harder next time," while others conspicuously filled the comments section with images of the Palestinian flag.

Israeli Broadcast Confirmed

The removal of the promotional material from the official international channels suggests a decision by Universal to distance the film's marketing from the geopolitical controversy. This follows a broader trend of cultural figures and organizations facing pressure to cut ties with Israel.

However, the change in social media strategy has not affected the local broadcast plan. Representatives from the Israeli cable and satellite providers HOT and yes confirmed to local media that the Wicked: One Wonderful Night special will proceed with its scheduled broadcast on November 7, as originally planned.

The episode highlights the ongoing volatility of the international cultural arena, where entertainment products are increasingly becoming flashpoints for political activism amid the conflict.