Artforum's Top Editor Fired Following Controversial Open Letter on Israel-Hamas Conflict

Artforum magazine fires its editor, David Velasco, after publishing an open letter in support of Palestinian liberation and criticizing cultural institutions' silence on the Israel-Hamas War. The letter, signed by thousands of artists and cultural workers, called for an end to civilian harm, an immediate ceasefire, and the passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The publishers of Artforum cited a flawed editorial process and misinterpretation of the letter as the reason for Velasco's termination. The controversy led to condemnation, campaigns to dissuade advertisers, and the removal of some artists' names from the letter.