Cynthia Pretends to Like Jews

Cynthia Nixon Lights Hanukkah Candles and the Internet Is Furious

Cynthia Nixon, after two years of relentlessly bashing Israel, boycotting its institutions, and sharing anti-Jewish tropes, now lights Hanukkah candles on Instagram preaching “stand together against hate.” The internet isn’t buying the performative hypocrisy, not one bit.

Gila Isaacson

DEC 22, 2025 09:25

2 min read

"Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon, who has faced accusations of antisemitism for her vocal criticism of Israel over the past two years, posted a video on Instagram lighting Hanukkah candles and calling for people to "stand together against the hate."

In the clip, the actress, whose two older children from a previous marriage are Jewish, said she found it "painful" to light the candles this year following the deadly terror attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, on the holiday's first night.

Nixon has been a loud and angry pro-Palestinian voice since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, participating in hunger strikes for a Gaza ceasefire, signing boycott pledges against Israeli institutions, and criticizing Israel viciously.

Groups like StopAntisemitism have highlighted her rhetoric, including Holocaust inversion and downplaying Hamas' role, as contributing to anti-Jewish tropes.

The post drew sharp criticism in comments and on social media, with users calling it hypocritical given her activism. Reactions included:

"The absolute audacity of this post."

"Hypocrite."

"Your hateful words may have contributed to the antisemitism we see everywhere."

Pro-Israel accounts amplified the video, noting the irony of her anti-hate message amid rising global antisemitism often linked to anti-Israel sentiment.

Nixon, not Jewish herself but raising Jewish children and affiliated with an LGBTQ+ synagogue, has posted Hanukkah greetings in previous years without similar controversy. Considering her vicious anti-Israel, antisemitic messages she has happily shared with millions of fans, Jewish anger at her hypocrisy makes a lot of sense.

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