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Montana Tucker tells disbelievers of the Oct. 7 attack to “come to Israel and see it with your own eyes,” speaking on the “All About Change” podcast Monday.
The influencer and activist with 14 million social media followers has been outspoken in her support of Israel and has been using her platform to raise awareness about growing anti-Semitism around the world.
On the most recent episode of the “All About Change” podcast hosted by Jay Ruderman, Tucker shared that he receives death threats daily due to his strong support for Israel.
Tucker spoke about his recent visits to Israel, traveling several times since the October 7 massacre. He described his visit to the site of the Nova music festival massacre, and that he will not stop going there, as it is important to be at the site, to interview these survivors.
“That way, okay, all this denial you’re having, well, I’m here,” he said. “I’m actually physically here, and I’m seeing it with my own eyes. I’ve talked to people of all religions, all races, all walks of life in Israel. And so, there are so many misconceptions about it, and most of the people who are spreading this stuff have never been [en Israel]”.
American influencer Montana Tucker (center) joins October 7 survivors at the site of the Nova music festival massacre (credit: COMBAT ANTISEMITISM MOVEMENT)
Jewish and Israeli defense
In 2022, Tucker launched a Holocaust Remembrance series broadcast on TikTok called “How to: Never Forget.” Through the 10-part series, she retraced her grandparents’ steps through Poland during the Holocaust.
However, following Hamas’s attack on Israel during the Simchat Torah holiday, Tucker would transform her platform, becoming a defender of Israel as anti-Semitism spread around the world.
“Once October 7th happened, this instinct in me and this feeling inside me, it was instantaneous that I knew I had to do something,” he said. “And this is my time to take action to combat anti-Semitism, to combat all forms of hate, and to share the truth of what is happening and the reality, and really try to make a difference.”
At the Grammys in February, she wore a big yellow bow on her dress that displayed the words “Bring Them Home.”
In June, Tucker created a video of her performing with survivors of the Nova Music Festival massacre and the Lilach Friedman Dance Ensemble, which was filmed at the site of the massacre on her recent visit to Israel and quickly went viral afterward. of its launch.
Receiving hate online
When asked on the podcast about the professional risk he is taking by publicly supporting Israel and sharing messages with a mass audience, Tucker said he receives death threats daily.
“I knew it was something I should do, but when I started posting, I immediately lost hundreds of thousands of followers,” she said. “And the hate I started getting was unbelievable. I got some hate when I did my Holocaust series, for sure. But the hate I got, of course, talking about Israel was on another level.”
Tucker explained that despite the hate, she has managed to rise up after seeing how strong Israelis have been since October 7 and before.
“I see how strong these hostage families are who still have their relatives in Gaza.”
“Over the last year, I have met so many different family members of hostages. I have met many freed hostages. I have now built friendships with these people who I truly feel are like family to me now,” he said. “Their stories will stay with me forever. Their faces will stay with me forever, but their strength and resilience I hope are what really stays with me forever.”
On the podcast, Tucker discussed a video she had filmed on the UCLA campus of pro-Palestinian activists who refused to speak to her and blocked her from accessing their tent camp. She explained that you could see the hatred in their eyes as they laughed at her.
“They were literally laughing. This was a joke. And I just couldn’t believe it. It made me so sad to know that this younger generation, these college students whose parents have worked so hard their entire lives to send them to college, or who are working so hard hard to be in college, and this is what they’re doing with their education? And this is how they’re spending the best years of their lives, having so much hate inside them?”
Despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, as Israel continues the battle against Hamas and Hezbollah, Tucker remains optimistic that peace could still be a possibility.
“I think if you’re discussing this conflict and your goal is not peace at the end of the day, you’re on the wrong side,” he said. “I think every person should want peace.”
Questions for Montana Tucker:
1. As an influencer and activist with a significant following, how did you decide to use your platform to raise awareness about the growing anti-Semitism around the world and express support for Israel? Can you describe the impact you hope to achieve through your actions?
2. You have recently visited Israel multiple times, including after the October 7 attack. How has witnessing the aftermath of such a tragedy affected you personally, and what messages do you want to convey to those who have not witnessed it firsthand?
3. You are also known for your Holocaust Remembrance series on TikTok. Can you talk about how this experience influenced your decision to speak out about Israel and its relationship to the Jewish community? Additionally, how do you see the connection between combating anti-Semitism and addressing hatred in general?
4. You have received a significant amount of backlash and hate online for your support of Israel. Can you talk about the challenges you faced and how you have coped with these responses? What advice would you give to others who may face similar situations when speaking out against social injustices?
5. You have also encountered pro-Palestinian activists on college campuses who have been dismissive and even hostile towards your efforts. How do you navigate these situations, and what do you think needs to change in the conversations surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to foster more productive dialogue and understanding?
6. Despite the ongoing conflict and violence in the region, you remain hopeful for a future of peace. Can you elaborate on this belief and what steps you think are necessary to achieve it? Do you think social media can play a role in promoting peace and understanding between different communities?
Questions for Jay Ruderman:
1. As an interviewer and host of the “All About Change” podcast, what was it like to have Montana Tucker share her experiences and perspective on the situation in Israel and the Middle East? How do you think her platform can be leveraged to effect change and combat misinformation?
2. You have also spoken about receiving death threats due to your support for Israel. Can you talk about the personal toll this has taken on you and your loved ones, and how you continue to use your platform despite
