Overview
- Video circulated online shows the 80-year-old actress being approached in Tower Hill, East London and verbally abused by a man who referenced her past remarks on Israel while her husband, Taylor Hackford, told the attacker to “f*** off.”
- Police said they are reviewing the footage and are trying to contact the people filmed to establish whether they wish to make a formal complaint, though at least one outlet reports the clip may have first circulated months earlier, creating uncertainty about the timing.
- The recording was shared by anonymous social accounts such as Anti-Fascist Action UK and London & UK Street News, and it went viral after being reposted on multiple platforms.
- Mirren has a long history of public support for Israel, including comments made in 2023, roles portraying Israeli or Jewish figures, and signing a recent open letter backing Israel’s place in the Eurovision Song Contest.
- Campaigns and antisemitism watchdogs condemned the abuse as unacceptable and the episode fits a wider pattern of high‑profile figures being targeted for their views, a trend that has prompted increased police hate‑crime reviews.