Ridley Road star’s abuse ordeal for playing a Jew
ACTOR EDDIE Marsan has opened up about the “relentless” abuse he has received on social media since playing the Jewish character Soly Malinovsky in the BBC1 drama Ridley Road.
Mr Marsan, 53, who is not Jewish, plays the leader of the anti-fascist 62 Group in the four-part series chronicling the community’s post-war fight against the far-right.
“F**k me, this is relentless, all I did was play a Jew, I dread to think what would’ve happened if I was actually Jewish,” he wrote on Twitter on Thursday evening.
Among several examples flagged by the actor was a tweet from a user who said they would never “watch shite with your Apartheid loving bake [face] in it”.
Another tweet condemned by Mr Marsan earlier this week described the series as “excellent” but criticised the actor and his co-star Tracy-Ann Oberman’s involvement in it. Both have been outspoken critics of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of antisemitism allegations
in the party. It “just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth knowing their work on Twitter throwing fake antisemitism around to stop a life-long anti- racist Jeremy Corbyn & legitimizing [sic] Palestine,” the user wrote.
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, joined others in extending her sympathy, calling Mr Marsan a hero.
“It’s shocking, disgusting, exhausting all at once,” Ms Pollock wrote.
EastEnders actor Gary Webster also waded in, writing: “Dont [sic] let them grind you down. You are an exceptional actor and a top person. Enough Said!”