Burlesque Dancer Dita Von Teese Is Latest Victim of Anti-Semitism
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Burlesque dancer and actress Dita Von Teese says she is the victim of an anti-Semitic tirade at the hands of her former landlord. In a lawsuit filed yesterday in L.A.’s superior court, the 37-year-old Von Teese claims that she told her landlord, Lallubhai Patel, she was moving and attempted to collect a $5,000 security deposit. Unsuccessful, she had her managers try to recover the cash, which is when Patel went on an anti-Semitic rant, according to the lawsuit, “personally attacking Plaintiff’s Jewish managers and business managers,” TMZ reported.
The lawsuit also noted that Patel wrote Von Teese a letter, telling her to “beware of Jews. In your business no one can do anything without them. Just a reminder to be cautious,” TMZ reported.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
