Sometimes, a single statement can alter the course of a career forever. Recently, Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon learned this the hard way. In remarks at a pro-Palestinian rally last November, she equated the fears faced by Jews today to what Muslims experience in the U.S., following it up with accusations of Israeli war crimes. The fallout was swift: agencies dropped her, projects disappeared, and now, Sarandon isn’t sure she’ll ever work in Hollywood again. In a recent interview, she reflected with surprise, "I’ve been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.”

Yet, Sarandon’s comments left many questioning: Did she genuinely think statements like this wouldn’t have consequences? The rally itself, where she stood alongside other activists, took an unapologetic tone as she openly criticized Israel’s response to Hamas’s October 7 attack. Months later, at another rally at Columbia University, Sarandon...