Two actors quit a London play over Maureen Lipman's views on Israel. She told one to 'grow up'.
The play opens 5 September. The argument has run for a week.
- What happened: Gerard McCarthy withdrew from 'Right Before I Go' at Soho Theatre, saying on Instagram he was not comfortable promoting Lipman's involvement given her views on Israel and Palestine. Iz Hesketh followed. Lipman called him a coward; the production says it will go on.
- Two readings: One side calls it an attempt to ostracise Jewish artists who will not disavow Israel. The other says an actor may decline a stage over politics, and points to Lipman's own refusals.
- The room: GB News carried 413K views, Hen Mazzig 216K, Daniel Epstein-O'Dowd 169K. Replies on both sides run to slurs. A claim that Lipman appears only on the final night is unverified.