Police probe over ‘antisemitic’ post of Jewish actress with devil horns
Police are investigating a social media post by a pro-Palestinian group depicting Jewish actress Maureen Lipman with devil horns and a pitchfork.
The photograph was published by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign as part of a petition to cancel Lipman’s upcoming play Allegra at Her Majesty’s Theater in Aberdeen.
The group said he “has long made harmful statements about Muslims, Palestinians and Palestinian rights.”
But the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity said the actress’ portrayal was a “long-standing anti-Semitic trope”.
The BBC approached Lipman for comment.
Aberdeen Performing Arts said the event was not affiliated with any political stance or cause.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We have received a report which is being assessed.
“Officers are also liaising with partners and continue to proactively engage with the Jewish community.”
In recent years, Lipman has criticized other actors who have spoken out against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The former Coronation Street actor lashed out at “bloodless heartless liberals” who fail to criticize Hamas attacks on Israel in 2023, saying they should feel “shame, shame, shame”.
A regular writer for the BBC, he protested against the company’s documentary about the lives of children in Gaza after it was revealed that the film’s 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
Following the stabbing of two Jewish men in London last week, Lipman told LBC he believed antisemitism in the UK had reached levels similar to Nazi Germany in 1933.
He also called for pro-Palestinian marches to be banned in central London.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the latest social media post about Lipman was “disgraceful” and written by “agitators angering Jews”.
They said: “Discrimination against Jewish people has become normalized in the arts; it is now part of doing business as a creative Jew in modern Britain.
“The only consolation is that Maureen Lipman knows that she has the support of the Jewish community and is loved throughout the country, no matter what activists who anger Jews say.”
It comes as concerns grow for London’s Jewish community following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green last week.
Police declared the incident a terrorist incident, and the government’s terrorism adviser has since told the BBC that attacks on Jewish people in the UK are the “biggest national security emergency” in almost a decade.
Aberdeen Performing Arts said it did not support the personal or political views of artists performing on its stages.
A spokesperson added: “On this occasion, Maureen Lipman is playing a character in a show touring the UK and our scenes are in no way used to support a personal or political narrative in this performance.
“In keeping with our ethos of ‘Everyone is Welcome,’ we open our doors to everyone and ensure we create a safe space within our venues for everyone to participate and enjoy.”
