Jewish leaders are demanding a state government explain why feminist author Clementine Ford has been granted over $30,000 in public funds after she boasted her podcast was cancelled because of perceived anti-Semitism.
Government body Screen NSW will provide $31,387 to Ford, 43, and production house Aquarius Films to fund their ‘dark comedy’ called Smile B**th under its slate development program.
The film will be a about a ‘high-profile media presenter who develops an appetite for murder after one too many sexist microaggressions’.
The funding revelation follows Ford’s podcast ‘Dear Clementine’ being cancelled by the Nova Entertainment network after a two-year run, which the host claimed was due to her strongly expressed views on Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
Jewish leaders are questioning why feminist author Clementine Ford (pictured) has been given money for her TV project
‘But all good things must come to an end – especially award-winning podcasts presented by women who have strong opinions on genocide,’ Ford wrote on her Instagram on December 19.
Ford has made numerous posts on Instagram railing against ‘Zionist’ supporters of Israel.
‘The white supremacist system that upholds Zionism expects women like me – white, middle class and a beneficiary of that system – to throw my weight behind it,’ she wrote.
‘To endorse a genocide through either staying silent, or actively defending it.’
A spokesperson for Nova gave no specific reason for ending the podcast.
‘The Nova Podcasts team continuously review our stable of titles which can lead to the conclusion of some shows,’ they said.
‘I can confirm “Dear Clementine” is one of the podcasts that will not be renewed in 2024.’
Ford has taken to Instagram to give her strong opinions on the fighting between Israel and Hamas
The posts have led n Jewish Association head Robert Gregory to call for the NSW government to defund the proposed film.
‘We are shocked by the news that Screen NSW has given such a divisive figure like Ford a grant for a TV series,’ he told The n.
‘Do they have complete disregard for Jewish women? Would they be giving grants to someone who has targeted members of any other minority group in this way?
‘NSW taxpayers will rightly be concerned about the use of their taxpayer dollars to subsidise a TV series for someone who is stirring up hatred. The grant should be rescinded. NSW Arts Minister John Graham must explain this decision.’
Ford has denied being ‘anti-Semitic’.
‘Every day, the depravity of those continuing to support Israel increases,’ she wrote to her 250,000 Instagram followers.
‘I am not intimidated by Zionist accusations of me being anti-Semitic. I know who and what I am – I’m someone who won’t stay silent as a nation of humans is wiped out by a colonising force.’
She also accused media organisations of being complicit in Israel’s actions.
‘To the pretend journalists in this country who are either staying silent about this genocide or actively endorsing it: you dishonour the fourth estate and all it stands for,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Shame on you all.’
Last year Ford announced she will be helming a new podcast titled ‘Untethered’.
She wrote on Instagram it will be targeted to ‘the free thinking woman who knows who she is and isn’t afraid to say it’ and will begin streaming in January.
Ford claimed her podcast was cancelled due to her condemning ‘genocide’ being committed in the Middle East
She ended her post with a defiant message to her critics: ‘A reminder… you can try your hardest to destroy me you, but you will never, ever win… I will always be ‘untethered’.’
Mr Graham told The n that he understood people have ‘strong feelings’ on the situation in Gaza and the government’s role was to focus on ‘community cohesion’ and ‘ensuring that our communities feel safe’.
‘There will be no tolerance for hate speech or vilification,’ he said.
A Screen NSW spokesperson said development funding was awarded to NSW-based production companies to develop screen projects that are the product of co-creators.
The spokesman said Screen NSW ‘respects the autonomy of independent organisations to collaborate with screen-creatives to develop content’.