Samuel L. Jackson Celebrates Israel Day

Image by Getty Images

By Anne Cohen June 2, 2014

Remember that time Samuel L. Jackson celebrated Israel Day and broke the Internet?

Celebrate Israel Parade in NY today pic.twitter.com/AIUVMRYou5

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— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) June 1, 2014

The actor posted a selfie of himself in front of the Israel Day festivities on Fifth Avenue on Sunday, casually causing the Internet to implode. Amidst the usual thread comments celebrating Sam’s glorious badassery — ”Another perfect Sam selfie” — one could also find comments like these:

@SamuelLJackson wow, pretty sad to hear that you support an apartheid state. You of all people.

— Margo_Channing (@Margo_Channing) June 1, 2014

@SamuelLJackson the wall in east Germany was less that 1/8 the size they are installing in east Jerusalem. What pride can they have?

— Rich and Willing. (@RichAndWilling) June 1, 2014

@SamuelLJackson wow you have just lost all respect I had for you #apartheid #rape #babykillers

— A (@Alexdakid7) June 1, 2014

The picture caused a Twitter firestorm as supporters of the Jewish state defended Israel against its detractors:

@RichAndWilling @SamuelLJackson the wall in germany was to seperate the communist state, the one in Israel protects people from terrorists.

— Ryan Bellerose (@Fenris69) June 1, 2014

@SoheilBiniaz is there a Palestinian country? until Pal leaders except jewish state, 2 states for 2 people,there is no palestinian country.

— Goldstein (@jleegoldstein) June 1, 2014

Sam, as is his habit once mischief is managed, stayed silent.

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

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