By JTA Staff · April 17, 2012

SIX DEGREES (NO BACON) | JEWISH CELEBRITY ROUNDUP

NEW YORK (6NoBacon) — The Israeli band Balkan Beat Box will continue its successful world tour with a concert on Wednesday evening in Munich, Germany — striking a nerve for some in Israel because it is the start of Holocaust Remembrance Day. All entertainment venues, from shows to restaurants, are shuttered in Israel on the day, also known as Yom Hashoah.

Band members said they were not aware of the problematic date and location when the show was booked, but after discussing the situation they decided to perform and deliver their message embracing equality and against racism.

Mizrahi on being bullied

Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi sat down with Marlo Thomas and talked about a topic that has made headlines in recent months: bullying. Mizrahi shared his own experience growing up gay at a yeshiva in New York and being bullied both at school and at synagogue.

Judah Maccabee film’s ex-screenwriter accuses Gibson

As if we didn’t know enough about Mel Gibson’s feelings about the Jewish people, now there’s more evidence of Gibson’s problematic outlook on the Jews. This time the source is screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who left Gibson’s project on the life of Judah Maccabee after his proposed script was snubbed by Warner Bros.

In a public statement, Eszterhas accused Gibson of hating Jews. He quoted a few of Gibson’s choice comments about the Jews who work in Hollywood and about how the whole idea behind making the film was “to convert Jews to Christianity.” In response, the man behind “Passion of the Christ” said, “I guess you only had a problem with me after Warner Bros. rejected your script … like most creative people I am passionate and intense.”

Gervais cracks Anne Frank jokes

British comedian Ricky Gervais is known for his daring and politically incorrect humor, but even Jon Stewart wasn’t prepared for what Gervais had to say when he was interviewed on “The Daily Show” recently.

Gervais was joking about how Karl Pilkington, co-star of his new show “An Idiot Abroad,” is so “out of it” that he thought the Frank family decided to hide to avoid paying rent. As the conversation continued, Gervais contined to make humorous comments about Anne Frank, much to the discomfort of Stewart.

Silverman ‘aborts’ a burrito

Funnygirl Sarah Silverman, who is known for being both politically incorrect and politically active, decided to express her opinion on the latest abortion debate.

Silverman tweeted a photo of herself with a pregnant belly and wrote, “it’s a burrito!”, only to tweet another picture of herself wearing the same outfit sans the pregnant belly with caption reading, “Got a quickie aborsh in case R v W gets overturned,” referencing the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling. Apparently some pro-lifers were upset.

Portman signs in McCartney’s latest video

Natalie Portman is in a new music video directed by Paul McCartney, where she uses sign language to sing along his latest single, “My Valentine.” McCartney directed three different versions of the song: one with Portman, one with Johnny Depp and one with both of them together.

Vote on the bar mitzvah rap wars

Last week we reported that Drake’s newest music video, “HYFR,” sparked controversy for overlaying shots of a synagogue bar mitzvah with explicit lyrics. Now we bring Drake a competition from four years ago: Bobb’e J. Thompson, who sang the “Bro Mizvah” song. Watch both music videos and decide: Who throws a better party?

For more Jewish celebrity news, visit 6nobacon.com, the illegitimate child of JTA.

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