Comedian Salma Hindy has spoken out about what she says was the end of her working relationship with Chelsea Handler after she raised the issue of Palestine. Hindy made the claim as the entertainment world continues to debate what happens when performers bring the Israel-Palestine conflict into their work.
Her story comes just days after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour following his onstage support for Palestinians. The two situations are not directly connected, but Hindy said the controversy surrounding Macklemore made her reflect on her own experience and decide it was time to speak publicly.
Salma Hindy Recalls Fallout With Chelsea Handler
'I lost my position as Chelsea Handler's opener after I spoke to her about Palestine,' Hindy said in a video.
The Canadian-Egyptian comedian, who lives in the US, said she began opening for Handler in 2022. She described their relationship as 'very warm, loving' and 'sisterly'.
According to Hindy, she messaged Handler on 14 October 2023 after seeing posts from Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman about the Israel-Palestine conflict. She said she asked Handler if she wanted to talk about the issue.
Hindy claimed Handler did not respond and that, the following day, she was removed from three of 12 upcoming tour dates. She said she was told those dates had been promised to another comedian.
The pair did later work together again, with Hindy saying they performed four shows in Canada in December 2023.
Hindy said she discussed Palestine with Handler privately during the trip. She also claimed Handler had previously spoken about visiting the West Bank while continuing to defend the Israeli government.
She said Handler subsequently cancelled two January 2024 shows because of severe weather. Hindy claimed she was already at a hotel waiting to perform when she learned about the cancellation and had incurred travel and accommodation costs.
According to Hindy, her manager later told her that 'Chelsea Handler is trying to get rid of me because of the Palestine thing'. He allegedly believed Handler did not want to say so directly 'so that she doesn't incriminate herself'.
Hindy said she was told she could continue the rest of the tour, but Handler 'would never work' with her again.
Parallels With Macklemore's Palestine Row
Hindy said she thought about the situation again after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour.
Macklemore was dropped from the remaining US dates after making pro-Palestinian comments during performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium earlier this month. Sheeran later said the decision was made by the promoter and venues, rather than by him personally.
The controversy has since grown, with Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga all withdrawing from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
For Hindy, the situation felt familiar. 'Seeing everything that's going down with Macklemore and Ed Sheeran made me be like, yeah, duh, this happens to artists all the time,' she said.
Why Salma Hindy Finally Spoke Out
Hindy said she initially kept quiet because she feared being branded difficult to work with. She also said she was financially devastated at the time and worried about losing future opportunities.
Now, she regrets treating the situation as something artists simply have to accept. 'This shouldn't be a normal thing,' Hindy said. 'We should be calling out people in power who are siding with an apartheid oppressive state like Israel,' she added.
Her decision to speak out adds another personal account to a much larger debate already playing out across the entertainment industry. As artists, promoters and venues continue to navigate the issue, the question of how much political expression can exist alongside professional relationships remains far from settled.
