Artforum's Controversial Gaza Ceasefire Call Leads to Editor's Firing

After an open letter expressing solidarity with Palestinians and supporting a ceasefire in Gaza was published in Artforum, powerful art dealers and gallerists began pressuring artists to retract their support. Martin Eisenberg, a collector and inheritor of the Bed Bath & Beyond fortune, contacted artists whose work he owns to express his objections to the letter. Artforum editor-in-chief David Velasco was subsequently fired, and several artists withdrew their support. The pressure campaign highlights the repercussions faced by those who speak out for Palestinians, with right-wing groups and wealthy interests using signatories as blacklists. The controversy has sparked debates about freedom of speech, censorship, and the role of art in addressing political issues.