Justin Baldoni’s Israel Ties, Celebrities for Palestine, and How You Can Help in 2025
2024’s Palestine Movement: Celebrities, Silence, and Corporate Connections to the Occupation
Today’s Newsletter Highlights
Welcome to the first House of Magdalena newsletter of 2025! Thank you for joining me, Illesha Magdalena, at the intersection of culture and politics. In today’s issue we’ll discuss:
5 Celebs Who Stood with Palestine in 2024
Justin Baldoni’s Israel Ties
The Brands Tied to Illegal Israeli Settlements
Take Action: CodePink’s Challenges for Pro-Palestine Activism in 2025
If you're looking to go deeper with these discussions and more, subscribe for just $5 to comment and access exclusive bonus content. Your support also helps keep my high-quality free content accessible.
And as always, check out my Pro-Palestinian Artists Spotify playlist!
5 Celebrities Who Stood With Palestine in 2024
Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! Last year was a challenging one, but it was also marked by several celebrities using their platforms to stand with Palestine.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Here are five celebrities who made a major impact this year:
1. Nicola Coughlan
The Bridgerton star raised an incredible $1.9 million for organizations like the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund while starring in a major Netflix show. She joined rallies, supported Amnesty International’s ceasefire campaign, and confidently dismissed concerns about jeopardizing her career during an interview with Teen Vogue.
2. Bella Hadid
A long-time advocate for Palestine, Palestinian-American supermodel Bella faced professional backlash in 2024, including being removed from an Adidas campaign after criticism from Israel’s official Twitter account. In 2024, she starred in Mustafa’s music video featuring Gaza rapper MC Abdul, with proceeds aiding Palestinian children, and, alongside her sister Gigi, donated $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts. Bella also made a bold statement at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing a vintage keffiyeh dress.
3. Huda Kattan
The founder of Huda Beauty launched the viral hashtag #GhostedForGenocide, calling out companies for dropping influencers supporting Palestine. In 2024, Huda Beauty, along with her sister Mona’s company Kayali, donated $500,000 to aid Palestine and Lebanon, adding to the $1 million she donated in late 2023. Her activism also led to a public fallout with longtime friend Eva Longoria.
4. Marcia Cross
In 2024, the Desperate Housewives star became a consistent and vocal advocate, amplifying voices from Gaza and calling out U.S. leaders like Kamala Harris. Her poignant social media posts, including “The silence has me believing I am deaf,” resonated with thousands.
5. Macklemore
The rapper’s song "Hind’s Hall," about a young girl killed in Gaza, became an anthem for the movement. Its sequel, featuring Palestinian artists Anees and MC Abdul, raised funds for UNRWA. Macklemore also organized the Palestine Will Live Forever Festival in Seattle, a cultural celebration and fundraiser supporting Palestinians.
There were so many to choose from, but this small group of celebrities reminds us that standing with Palestine isn’t just about words, it’s about taking action. How will you stand with Palestine in 2025?
Justin Baldoni’s Israel Ties
Blake Lively’s recent complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, has brought Baldoni’s actions into focus, particularly regarding Palestine.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
A follower of the Baháʼí faith, Baldoni has made multiple pilgrimages to holy sites in Haifa and Akka, located in historic Palestine. In 2011, he credited a trip to Haifa as inspiring his commitment to uplifting marginalized voices. By 2022, he posted, “Tears often speak the language the heart doesn’t have words for. So grateful to be back in Haifa visiting the #bahai holy land on a three-day pilgrimage.”
While some argue these visits are purely spiritual, Baldoni’s silence on Israel’s occupation of Palestine speaks volumes. As someone who claims to champion underrepresented voices, his failure to acknowledge the oppression just outside these holy sites is complicity. Remaining silent only upholds the status quo. What do you think?
The Brands Tied to Illegal Israeli Settlements
In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s—a Unilever subsidiary—announced it would stop selling its products in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, citing concerns over human rights and international law. But instead of backing Ben & Jerry’s decision, Unilever sold the Israeli distribution rights to businessman Avi Zinger, ensuring that Ben & Jerry’s products would remain available in Israel.
This isn’t the first time Unilever has found itself on the wrong side of history. The company’s origins trace back to the height of European colonialism, and it has long been criticized for exploiting resources and labor in the Global South, from its role in the palm oil industry to unethical labor practices in former colonies.
For decades, the corporation has profited off the exploitation of marginalized communities while selling a sanitized image to consumers in the Global North. Its actions in occupied Palestine are just the latest example of this pattern.
Boycotting Unilever and its brands is one way to stand in solidarity with marginalized communities, including Palestinians. Here’s a quick list of popular Unilever brands to avoid:
Dove
Hellmann’s
Axe
Vaseline
Pond’s
Knorr
TRESemmé
Simple Skincare
Every small decision adds up. Whether it’s swapping out your moisturizer or trying a new mayonnaise, choosing alternatives to Unilever products sends a powerful message: corporations profiting from oppression won’t get your money.
Take Action: CodePink’s Challenges for Pro-Palestine Activism in 2025
As we close a year marked by profound suffering in Palestine, anti-war organization CODEPINK continues to stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Here’s what the organization is focusing on this year and how you can join the fight for justice:
CODEPINK’s Focus:
Honoring Frontline Heroes: Recognizing Gaza’s health workers and journalists risking their lives to save and inform.
Amplifying Solidarity: Celebrating BDS campaigns and activists across the U.S.
Exposing Pro-Israel Agendas: Warning against policies likely to escalate violence, including new appointments like Mike Huckabee and Elise Stefanik.
Fighting Anti-Palestinian Legislation: Preparing to counter bills equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
Challenging Powerful Lobbies: Exposing the influence of AIPAC and military contractors.
Building Global Accountability: Supporting international actions like South Africa’s genocide case and arms embargoes.
Growing the Movement: Expanding coalitions and increasing global sympathy for Palestinians.
How You Can Help:
Support CODEPINK’s Campaigns: Join their BDS efforts, lobby for arms embargoes, and push for military funding cuts.
Boycott and Divest: Avoid companies that profit from Israeli settlements.
Call Your Representatives: Urge opposition to anti-Palestinian legislation.
Educate and Mobilize: Share resources, attend events, and spread awareness.
Support Palestinian-Led Initiatives: Uplift Palestinian voices and businesses.
Stand with CODEPINK and the broader Palestine solidarity movement in 2025!
Thank You
Let me know what you think by commenting below, and don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends and hit the like button. Together, we can tip the cultural scales in support of justice.
Subscribe for just $5 for my bonus content and to join the conversation with comment access. By subscribing at the $5 level, you also enable me to keep my high-quality free content free!
Thank you for being part of this community!
In Solidarity,
illesha magdalena
For more updates, follow me on: