WME's Brandt Joel met with film and talent officials on Zoom to apologize and clarify a comment he posted and then removed from an unofficial WME WhatsApp chat (formed as a Jewish affinity group), a source familiar with the situation says. The Hollywood Reporter.
As other chat participants reacted with horror to the killing of six hostages over the weekend, Joel posted and then deleted a comment: “To hell with the left, kill everyone.”
Joel told the group that he wanted to talk about what happened, expressed remorse for what he had done, said he deeply regretted it and held himself accountable. He said he had done it in an emotional and irrational moment, when he was devastated by the news of the hostages, and had made the comment in reference to terrorists. When he realized he had crossed a line, he removed it.
Joel noted that his text was directed at Hamas, the terrorist organization. Although his short message lacked clarity, Joel noted that his text was directed at Hamas, the terrorist organization.
Joel apologized for his lack of judgment, said he had created a huge distraction and put a target on the group. He added that he loves the company and his colleagues, according to the source, and said he would seek different points of view and go to therapy to address his impulsive behavior.
Following the fallout from the text, Mahershala Ali has been reassigned and may leave the agency.
More will come.