Aaron Sorkin has dropped CAA following controversial social media posts about Israel by agent Maha Dakhil, Variety has confirmed.
The Social Network and West Wing writer is returning to WME, where he was previously repped until he moved to CAA in 2017.
“Maha is not anti-Semitic, she’s just wrong. She’s a great agent and I’m very proud of the work we’ve done together over the past six years. I’m thrilled to be returning to WME,” Sorkin said in a statement.
Dakhil, who represents A-list talent including Tom Cruise and Natalie Portman, resigned from CAA’s internal board on Sunday following controversial comments she made about Israel and stepped down from her executive duties as co-head of the agency’s film department. She will continue to work with her clients and colleagues at CAA while taking time for personal development.
On 18 October, Dakhil reposted a statement from an account called Free Palestine commenting on Israel’s response to the 7 October terrorist attack carried out by Hamas. The post read, “You’re about to learn who supports genocide,” to which Dakhil added her own caption: “This is the line for me.” She then posted a second photo with the caption: “What is more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening.” She later deleted both posts from her account.
“I made a mistake with a repost on my Instagram story that used hurtful language. Like so many of us, I am heartbroken. I am proud to stand on the side of humanity and peace,” Dakhil said in a statement to Variety on 19 October. “I am so grateful to Jewish friends and colleagues who pointed out the implications and educated me. I immediately took down the post. I’m sorry for any pain I may have caused.”
