John Malkovich cancels Tel Aviv show after promoter fabricates statement from him about Israel

The actor said he isn’t in “supposed ‘solidarity’ with any particular political cause, nor with the killing of innocents, nor with any acts of terrorism.”

Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich canceled an upcoming stage performance in Tel Aviv after he learned that The Jerusalem Post unknowingly published a made-up quote attributed to him about his “closeness and solidarity” with Israeli audiences.

Malkovich said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday that a local public relations firm “hired by the Israeli promoter drafted a quote for the article that was attributed to me, though I never made the statements that were quoted, nor was I consulted before they were printed.”

“The fact that they were printed as direct quotes from me is unacceptable and untenable,” his statement read. “For this reason, I have decided I cannot participate in the Tel Aviv performance.”

The offending quote, which NBC News obtained by using The Wayback Machine internet archive, was published by The Jerusalem Post on Saturday.

It said: “I am thrilled to return to Israel and look forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity. I hope to find you happy and optimistic! Sending you much love.”