Actress Gal Gadot fought back tears on Wednesday evening, November 11, 2026, while delivering an urgent warning against the global rise of antisemitism during the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Humanitarian Award Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Taking the stage alongside media moguls David Ellison and Jeffrey Katzenberg, the 41-year-old former Wonder Woman star helped present the organization's 2026 Humanitarian Award to newly appointed Skydance co-CEO Ynon Kreiz, praising the 61-year-old executive for standing firm against anti-Jewish bigotry.

The annual black-tie event drew a high-profile crowd of Hollywood executives, producers, and actors to recognize Kreiz’s lifetime of work and public advocacy. While multiple outlets including Variety and Fox News confirmed the gala took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, an IMDb-syndicated report erroneously referred to the November 11 date as a Thursday.

Throughout the evening, speakers used the platform to address the entertainment industry's moral obligations following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and the subsequent surge in hostility toward Jewish communities worldwide.

An Emotional Plea From the Podium

Gadot’s presentation began on a lighthearted note before shifting to the personal weight of recent geopolitical events. Smiling as she addressed the ballroom, the Israeli actress initially shared a humorous personal anecdote about Kreiz once delivering his own baby daughter inside a car pulled over on a busy London street, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Moments later, Gadot grew visibly somber as her remarks turned to the aftermath of the October 7 massacre and the war that followed. Pausing to compose herself as she grew tearful at the podium, she apologized to the audience, admitting she had not expected to become emotional.

"I’m frightened by how quickly hatred of Jews is spreading — and how openly it is expressed and accepted," Gadot told the room, as documented in event accounts published by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

"Since the Oct. 7 massacre and the war that followed, I have found myself asking how far this can go. If people get used to hearing and seeing hatred and looking the other way, then where does it end?"

Gadot emphasized that unambiguous public stances from industry executives provide much-needed encouragement to the Jewish community. She credited Kreiz for refusing to waver in his convictions, describing his vocal opposition to antisemitism as "a beacon of light" that offers courage during a dark period.

Kreiz Addresses Corporate Responsibility and Industry Disputes

In accepting the 2026 Humanitarian Award, Kreiz—who was born in Tel Aviv and holds Israeli, British, and American citizenship—focused on the intersection of corporate leadership and public advocacy.

While the Simon Wiesenthal Center emphasized Kreiz's ongoing position as Skydance co-CEO and Fox News highlighted his status as the studio's new co-CEO following his recent transition from Mattel, both reports underscored his gratitude toward fellow Skydance boss David Ellison.

Kreiz thanked Ellison for taking a "bold stand for Israel and the Jewish people" and stressed that the alliance between the United States and Israel must remain unshakable. At the same time, Kreiz drew a clear line between political discourse and bigotry.

"Defending Israel does not mean Israel is beyond criticism," Kreiz told the audience, according to Deadline. "Disagreement with the policies of the Israeli government cannot become an excuse for the hatred of Jews."

Noting that "ancient hatred has found new platforms on which to spread," Kreiz told the room that business leadership carries a direct moral responsibility.

Prior to the ceremony, Kreiz also addressed recent friction within the entertainment industry during a red-carpet conversation with The Hollywood Reporter. He stated that he "wholeheartedly" agreed with Skydance’s official rebuke of an Instagram post by actor Mark Ruffalo. Ruffalo had publicly criticized Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, targeted Oracle (co-founded by David Ellison's father, Larry Ellison), and accused Israel of genocide and apartheid—a post Skydance stated traded in "antisemitic tropes." When pressed on whether he would continue working with Ruffalo, who stars in the HBO procedural Task, Kreiz deflected, stating the broader issue "is not about one actor or one story."

A Reshaped Hollywood Landscape at the Beverly Wilshire

The dinner also served as a major industry gathering following a massive corporate consolidation in Hollywood. After leading toy giant Mattel as CEO for eight years, Kreiz was tapped by David Ellison in late September to serve as co-CEO of the newly expanded Skydance, which now encompasses the merged operations of Paramount and Warner Bros.

Discovery.

According to Deadline, the Burbank studio acquisition closed earlier in the year for $111 billion, while Fox News valued Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery at $110 billion and noted it closed just over a month prior to the gala. Under the new corporate structure, Ellison, 43, serves as chairman and CEO leading strategy, creative, and technology functions, while Kreiz oversees day-to-day operations and business integration across a portfolio that includes Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO, CBS, and CNN.

Despite the timing of the corporate merger, Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Jim Berk, 67, told The Hollywood Reporter that the board of trustees selected Kreiz for his lifetime of work months before the Skydance offer materialized. Berk noted that the board was drawn to Kreiz's unapologetic honesty regarding his identity as both an Israeli and a Jew.

Ellison similarly noted during his remarks that he had agreed to speak for his friend before knowing they would soon become corporate partners.

DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, 75, who served as a dinner chair and trustee, introduced Ellison and praised his selection of Kreiz to help run the studio conglomerate, calling the role the biggest job of Kreiz's career. Other honorees recognized during the Wednesday ceremony included former CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga, who received the Jewish Heritage Award, and Elica Le Bon, who was presented with the Medal of Valor.

The Skydance-sponsored ballroom featured a deep roster of industry figures. Attendees included actor Vin Diesel—who also praised Kreiz in a video tribute—producer Jerry Bruckheimer, screenwriter Chris Bremmer, Pulp Fiction executive producer Lawrence Bender, HBO chief Casey Bloys, Fauda star Lior Raz, and Gadot’s husband, producer Jaron Varsano.

Executives and representatives making the rounds included dinner chairs Shari Redstone and Cheryl and Haim Saban, alongside WME co-chair Richard Weitz, Range Media’s Jack Whigham, Lionsgate’s Kevin Beggs, attorney Marty Singer, and CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister. Meanwhile, listed gala co-chair Ted Sarandos and dinner chair David Zaslav—who exited Warner Bros. Discovery with a reported $600 million payout following the merger—did not attend the ceremony.

Sources