Uri Geller: Guinness World Records’ Israel decision is more twisted than my spoons
Uri Geller, who holds a Guinness World Record himself, writes about the 'disgraceful' decision from the organisation
Six years ago, I was awarded the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest bent steel spoon. This amazing sculpture stands outside my museum in Old Jaffa, and has delighted tens of thousands of tourists who have stopped to take their photo with it.
But, what on Earth does Guinness (the world records company, not the beer!) think it’s doing, refusing to accept any more entries from Israel or the Palestinian territories? If there was a world record for the Most Disgraceful Decision, they should get it!
This policy appears to be a reaction to the war in Gaza, but there is a ceasefire now. In my opinion it is part of the cultural boycott of Israel sweeping the world for the past two years – only here Palestinians are paying a price too. Well I am a proud Israeli and Zionist, and now I am even more proud of my Guinness World Record. Thank you, GWR! I have something that you don’t like and I am going to make a big fanfare out of it!
Dozens of Israelis have won Guinness World Records – probably a disproportionate number, like Israeli Nobel prize winners – and as one of them I take great satisfaction knowing that it aggravates the haters! What makes this boycott twice as disgusting is it turns down kidney donors! What could be more humanitarian than kidney donations? As a patron of the Israeli charity Save a Child’s Heart – which equally treats Arab and Jewish children – this makes me sick. How can a brand enjoyed around the world pick on the most altruistic act of kindness? Only if it takes place in Israel, it seems, since to the best of my knowledge no such boycott affects countries known for terrible human rights abuses.
This is a public relations disaster for Guinness World Records as they have drawn attention to themselves for all the wrong reasons. Whoever took this decision, please give them an award for the World’s Biggest Imbecile and fire them.
In the meantime, I invite everybody who is in Israel, or coming to visit Israel – come to Old Jaffa, photograph the record-breaking spoon, and hashtag it #IsraelWorldRecord. Guinness World Records would hate it, and that would be the best response of all.
To find out more about the Uri Geller museum, visit Urigellermuseum.com