Maha Dakhil, the former Co-Head of Motion Pictures at CAA, has resigned from the agency’s internal board and stepped away from her leadership role following controversial comments she made regarding Israel’s response to the Hamas terror attacks. Dakhil, who represents stars such as Tom Cruise and Natalie Portman, had discussions with agency leaders Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, and Richard Lovett before making the decision.
Despite stepping away from leadership, Dakhil will continue working with her clients, although it is expected that she will distance herself from certain teams. The announcement of these changes was made in an internal note sent out by CAA.
The controversy surrounding Dakhil began when she reposted an Instagram story that stated, “You’re currently learning who supports genocide.” In response, she issued an apology and acknowledged that she had made a mistake. Dakhil represents other notable names in Hollywood, including Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, and Olivia Wilde.
There was some confusion regarding Dakhil’s representation of Steven Spielberg, as she was listed on his IMDb Pro page. However, Deadline has confirmed that she does not work with the acclaimed director of “Schindler’s List.”
In the midst of this controversy, a group of showrunners and high-profile members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) came together to discuss the organization’s silence on the issue. Chaired by “American Soul” creator Jonathan Prince, the Zoom meeting was expected to include Sacha Baron Cohen, Jerry Seinfeld, “Mad Men” creator Matt Weiner, and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s” Amy Sherman-Palladino. The meeting follows an open letter from numerous WGA members criticizing the guild’s leadership for not speaking out during the recent events in Israel.
The resignation of Maha Dakhil and the discussions within the WGA highlight the ongoing debate within the entertainment industry regarding how individuals and organizations should address political and social issues.