John Malkovich Pulls Out of Tel Aviv Show Over Fabricated Quote

John Malkovich has withdrawn from a scheduled performance in Tel Aviv, Israel, after discovering that promoters had circulated a statement falsely attributed to him. The American actor, known for films like Dangerous Liaisons and Being John Malkovich, was due to appear in April in "The Music Critic," a comedic show blending classical music with critiques of famous composers.

A recent press release quoted Malkovich as expressing excitement about returning to Israel and feeling solidarity with its people. The fabricated quote was picked up by several Israeli and U.S. media outlets. Malkovich, however, told The Hollywood Reporter that he had never made those remarks and was not consulted before they were published.

"I did not utter these phrases, and they most certainly are not approved by me, nor do they reflect my feelings," he said, explaining that the misattribution left him with no choice but to cancel his participation.

Alon Yurik, the Israeli producer of the show, acknowledged the error in a statement, attributing it to "human error." He said his team had contacted media outlets to retract the quote and had issued an apology. Yurik expressed regret that the incident escalated to the point of cancellation.

Malkovich has performed in Israel previously and has maintained that appearing in a country does not imply endorsement of its government's policies. The cancellation comes amid a broader cultural boycott movement, with several international artists declining to perform in Israel in recent years. The Israel Festival, an annual cultural event, proceeded this year without any international acts.

Malkovich is a two-time Academy Award nominee whose credits include In the Line of Fire and Con Air. He is set to appear in Wild Horse Nine, a film about the CIA's role in the 1973 Chilean coup.