Mehdi Hasan & Anees discuss why some celebrities, including fellow Palestinian-American DJ Khaled, have remained silent on Gaza. Anees says why he speaks up and how Gaza was designed to be a taboo topic

The last decade or so has shown me how absolutely spineless most celebrities are. They’ll fence sit *right* up until a side to take becomes clear ($$$) for them. I hope I see a free Palestine in my lifetime.

I am not going to criticize black/brown/queer celebrities for not speaking up because as we saw with Bob Vylan and Kehlani and Melissa Barrera the consequences/backlash is always much higher for minorities who already struggle for a place in Hollywood/music industry or media in general.

I do appreciate and admire the courage of people who do speak out and risk losing their career over this – Indya Moore comes to mind. She was even arrested I think.

Popular white celebrities need to speak up – like I appreciate Ariana Grande for doing her part, small as it may. What’s Taylor Swift doing? When a Robert Downey Jr – someone who holds so much power or a Taylor Swift speak up – no one can do anything to do them. That is who should speak up against genocide but won’t because they don’t care.

Doesn’t help that Americans give popular celebrities/journalists a pass because they enjoy their movies/TV show/songs or they criticize Trump but remain silent on genocide.

Dj Khaled is a very vain small man who has no morals and loves money. He’s a modern day Mr Krabs an all he does is yell we the best over allegedly stolen beats. He’s won’t speak up for anything unless it’s related to food.