Royal Court Theatre loses funding over antisemitic character name
Two major law firms will no longer support the venue as video of the Rare Earth Mettle character, originally named Hershel Fink, surfaces.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Two major law firms have withdrawn funding from the Royal Court Theatre in the fall-out from the row over the naming of a billionaire villain as Hershel Fink.
The firms Kirkland & Ellis and Weil, Gotshal & Manges confirmed they will no longer fund the Sloane Square theatre.
The Royal Court was forced to apologise last month and change the name of the character in a new play following a huge backlash over “perpetuating an antisemitic stereotype.”
Theatre chiefs agreed to change Hershel Fink, a non-Jewish part featured in Rare Earth Mettle by actor Al Smith, to Henry Finn.
On Thursday BBC London News aired promotional footage of the character – and also confirmed reports that warnings had been given by Jewish staff to the theatre about the use of the name for the character.
Confirming the decision to pull funding from the Royal Court as a result of the row a spokesperson for Kirkland & Ellis said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any and all forms of racism and discrimination, including antisemitism, and in light of the recent events, we were unable to continue our sponsorship.”
Weil, Gotshal & Manges also confirmed : “Weil strongly condemns any form of antisemitism or discrimination, whether conscious or unconscious, and we will be withdrawing our support for the Royal Court.”
After critics pointed out the antisemitic connotations of the name, the Royal Court initially said character was not actually Jewish.
Author David Baddiel wrote on Twitter: ‘Apparently @royalcourt claim they didn’t realise ‘Hershel Fink’ was a Jewish name.
‘Hmm. Somehow it just sounded so right for a world conquering billionaire. I’ve written a play.”
The radical theatre, who have had a history of staging plays that had angered many British Jews, then admitted the naming of the character was an example of “unconscious bias” and changed it, apologising “unreservedly.”
In a statement, the Royal Court said it would: “reflect on the process that enabled the name to remain and what is missing in our systems that would have mitigated this unnecessary harm”.
Interim Director of London’s Jewish Museum Frances Jeens was amongst those to criticise the character.
“This image is a stereotype as it shows a Jewish person in a malevolent way, so it’s a racist depiction of a Jewish person – rich, controlling, in power.
“These are deeply hurtful stereotypes that have existed for centuries and is something that is very hurtful to the Jewish community today.”
Meanwhile the government’s independent antisemitism adviser Lord Mann told Jewish News : “I think that there needs be antisemitism awareness training for the arts world, starting with the Royal Court.
“I wouldn’t contemplate ever going there unless and until they sort themselves out and I know others who feel the same.”
The BBC also reported they received no response to queries directed to other Royal Court donors, including Aqua Financial Ltd, Cadogan, Colbert, Edwardian Hotels London, Kudos, Sloane Stanley, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Left Bank Pictures.
They are all listed as corporate sponsors or platinum/gold or silver corporate members of the theatre.
The BBC say two other sponsors, Sister and Auriens, declined to comment.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
