Thought the Ed Sheeran-Palestine row was absurd? Wait to see why pro-Pals want Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco cancelled
Before Netflix became a graveyard of Harlan Coben slop and a catalogue of true-crime documentaries even Channel 5 would pass on, it was home to some incredible titles.
Okay, perhaps I do it a disservice. In recent years, The Diplomat, The Gentlemen and The Night Agent have proved decent enough thrillers, and while it’s not my cup of tea, I can’t refute the appeal of Bridgerton.
But, somehow managing to sound like a boomer dad in the streaming age, I do find myself yearning for its ‘good old days’ from time to time. House of Cards, Narcos, Money Heist, Making A Murderer, Orange Is the New Black, and – one of my all-time favourites – Ozark.
So as the clock struck 3.45am on Tuesday morning, you can imagine the excitement on this exhausted entertainment journalist’s face when Ozark star Tom Pelphrey won his first-ever Emmy at this year’s ceremony.
Ozark star Tom Pelphrey (right) celebrated his first Emmy win this week
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Pelphrey played Robbie Prendergast in the debut series of the nail-biting thriller Task. His performance bagged him the gong for best supporting actor in a drama series.
The actor paid tribute to HBO executives and his co-stars, paying special mention to “the beautiful” – and vocally pro-Palestinian – Mark Ruffalo. “Thank you for this incredible role and this opportunity and your friendship. I’m so proud to be your friend,” he said to his beaming Oscar-nominated co-star.
There was one other person Pelphrey reserved praise for. “And to my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley – I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life.”
The tearful recipient, of course, was the actress Kaley Cuoco.
Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco was left in tears as her partner accepted the award
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Cuoco is an instantly recognisable face to sitcom fans across the globe. She played Penny in the long-running Big Bang Theory. At the show’s peak, Cuoco and her co-stars were reportedly raking in $1million an episode.
But she hasn’t stopped there. Like a millennial Jennifer Aniston, Cuoco has managed to shake off the double-edged sword of sitcom stardom to achieve success further afield. Her Emmy-nominated stint as the lead in the mind-bending drama The Flight Attendant a perfect example.
Cuoco and Pelphrey have become a Hollywood power couple. A second baby on the way and awards glory, you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing could stop them.
But that was until Cuoco celebrated Pelphrey’s Emmy on Instagram this week and made a fateful mistake: she used an Ed Sheeran song to accompany the post.
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past week – I envy you – but allow me to fill you in on why one of Britain’s most successful ever singer-songwriters is facing career capitulation for being a supposed “Zionist puppet”.
The rapper Macklemore performed two sets as Sheeran’s support act on his current US tour. During his performances, he took a moment to quote-unquote spread awareness for humanitarian causes across the globe.
This, of course, included “Free Palestine” as well as calls to free the likes of Congo, Sudan, and others. He also attempted to make the distinction that his preaching wasn’t of an anti-Jewish persuasion, but solely Israel-critical.
This didn’t wash with American Jews, however. Petitions were launched to have him removed. Sheeran’s tour organisers – not Sheeran – as well as billionaire venue owner Robert Kraft obliged.
Macklemore and Ed Sheeran had been friends for over a decade | GETTY
Ed Sheeran has refused to be dragged into political discussions | GETTY
“Using Ed Sheeran as a song, it’s a great way to throw a smelly wet blanket on this whole thing. Bye,” one of Cuoco’s followers promptly replied to the celebratory post.
A second similarly plunged the knife in: “Maybe not the best time to use an Ed Sheeran song… But I guess you are sending out a message the side you are on.”
“The song choice? What the f***,” a third typed, while a fourth weighed in: “I wanted to love this but why the song choice? Seems too convenient.”
They kept on coming. “So happy for you but Ed for the song??? NO, sorry, bye,” a fifth commented. (sic)
Kaley Cuoco’s post was hijacked by pro-Palestinian activists
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INSTAGRAM/KALEY CUOCO
And a sixth turned detective: “Is the song choice a message of solidarity?”
There were too many to count as I scrolled through the comment section of the post. Other followers countered by highlighting the nonsensical nature of the “gotchas”, but a wall of keffiyehs outnumbered them.
This is where we’re at right now.
Any sniff of a chance for a pro-Pal to show off their ‘pro-Palness’ ends up with an actress who has made no political comment in the public domain whatsoever being hounded for liking a song by another performer who has explicitly said that he does not want to be involved in the political debate either.
Ed Sheeran is now facing a tour without any support acts | GETTY
I’ve written before that I genuinely believe – somehow at this point – I have more in common with the cause than not. But performative nonsense like this, which makes not one iota of difference to Gazans or Palestinians in the West Bank, is becoming harder to stomach.
The dopamine hit from fellow pro-Pals liking your comment will feed your ego, but it will not feed those you so desperately and obnoxiously insist you’re supporting.
And it’s a depressing realisation that the first living organisms post-Big Bang probably had a greater capacity for rational thinking than today’s humans trying to cancel a Big Bang actress.
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