Florence Pugh has revealed that she believes she has lost hundreds of thousands of social media followers over the past few years because of her outspoken support for Palestine, writes Variety.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Oscar-nominated actor said she was never afraid to speak publicly about the issue, even when many in Hollywood remained silent.
Pugh has regularly shared links to humanitarian aid for Palestinians and attended the Together for Palestine fundraising event last year.
“I don’t know why it took so long for people to start talking and for people to actually feel sympathy,” Pugh said. She added that the lack of public discussion had made her even more determined to speak out.
Pugh said nobody from her team had advised her to remain silent. She also expressed gratitude to those who helped her attend the Together for Palestine event despite it clashing with production on ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
Reflecting on social media, Pugh said she finds it difficult to celebrate everyday moments online while being confronted with images of suffering in Gaza. She said the ongoing situation remains deeply painful to watch.
Pugh appeared at the Together for Palestine fundraiser at OVO Arena Wembley last year, where she spoke about the need for empathy and urged people to put pressure on governments.
The event raised more than $2 million for humanitarian organisations and featured artists including Gorillaz, King Krule, Brian Eno, PinkPantheress, Bastille, James Blake and Sampha.
Pugh has supported humanitarian causes involving Palestinians since 2021, according to Vanity Fair.
The actor currently has nearly 11 million Instagram followers, although the publication notes that her social media presence has become more focused on her professional work in recent years.
