The Metropolitan Police are reviewing footage that shows Dame Helen Mirren being verbally abused by a man in the street, who called her an 'evil Zionist b****'. The incident, captured on video last year, is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Incident Details
The video shows the 80-year-old actress smiling and greeting the man before he launches into a tirade over her support for Israel. He accuses her of saying Israel should last forever because of the Holocaust and being happy that Palestinians' homes were destroyed. Dame Helen's husband, Taylor Hackford, intervened, telling the man to 'f*** off' and leave them alone.
The clip was first posted by an anonymous account called Anti-Fascist Action UK. The Met Police are now trying to contact the couple to see if they wish to formally report the incident.
Met Police Statement
A Met spokesperson said: 'We are aware of a video circulating online, showing a man and a woman being subjected to antisemitic verbal abuse in Tower Hill. It is believed that the incident took place at the end of last year. Officers are currently reviewing the footage and making attempts to contact the victims to establish whether they would like to report the incident.'
The spokesperson added: 'The Met continues to work hard to tackle hate crimes of all types and officers across London have made more than 90 hate crime arrests since the end of March. If you believe you have been a victim of this type of crime please report it to us by calling 101 or making an online report.'
Political Reaction
Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick expressed disgust at the footage, telling LBC: 'I was disgusted by it, but antisemitism is unfortunately rife, and nobody who is either Jewish or has voiced support for the British Jewish community should be being harassed on the streets of our country. It's not just antisemitism, it's anti-British. Everyone should be able to walk the streets of our country in safety, free from harassment.'
Helen Mirren's Support for Israel
Dame Helen, who is not Jewish, has long been a vocal advocate for Israel. Last month, she signed an open letter alongside Boy George and Sharon Osbourne supporting Israel's inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest. She has played several Jewish figures, including Maria Altmann in Woman in Gold and former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the 2023 film Golda.
While promoting Golda, she said: 'I believe in Israel, in the existence of Israel, and I believe Israel has to go forward into the future, for the rest of eternity. I believe in Israel because of the Holocaust.'
She first visited Israel in 1967 after the Six-Day War, volunteering on Kibbutz HaOn near the Sea of Galilee. Despite her support, she has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing his leadership style as 'male' and praising protests against him as a 'pivotal moment in Israeli history'.
Representatives for Dame Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford have been contacted for comment.
