(Jewish Group) Netflix series 'The Umbrella Academy' and anti-Semitism (2 articles)

[Behind the Aegis]

Critics say Netflix series ‘The Umbrella Academy’ promotes anti-Semitic stereotype through Yiddish scene

The Netflix superhero series “The Umbrella Academy” is being called out by critics who say it promotes anti-Semitic stereotypes.

The show, based on a comic book series of the same name, includes an underground society of lizard people who secretly control the world and their handler — who speaks Yiddish in at least one scene.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews published an open letter criticizing the show.

“The use of a Yiddish saying by the evil boss of an organization which controls the world’s timeline is clearly an antisemitic trope,” the group’s vice president Amanda Bowman told the Sun, a British tabloid, after the open letter was published. “Whether intentional or not, this makes for very uncomfortable viewing. Netflix should take action to remove the racism from this scene.”

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‘Umbrella Academy’ co-creator says accusation of anti-Semitism on Netflix show is ‘factually incorrect’

The co-creator of the Netflix superhero series “The Umbrella Academy” pushed back against criticism that the show features anti-Semitic stereotypes.

Based on a comic book series of the same name, the show includes an underground society of lizard people who secretly control the world and their handler — who speaks Yiddish in at least one scene.

“The accusation of anti-Semitism in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ is hurtful and, more importantly, factually incorrect,” Steve Blackman said in a statement. “I wrote these episodes, created the character, and am myself Jewish. While I understand audiences sometimes receive things in a different way than creators intend, The Handler was not created as an anti-Semitic character.

“The Handler speaks every language, including Swedish, Mandarin, Yiddish, and English as we saw this season, and The Commission is not an evil organization; they do not control finances, governments, or the media. The only thing they control – and more importantly, protect – is the timeline of our fictional Umbrella Academy universe.”

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I'll admit I didn't even notice it! I loved the second season. While this genre may not be for some, it is really some good, and sometimes serious, and very kooky fun. Worth a binge if that's your thing.

[Borchkins]

1. I love UA.

I binge-watched the second season on Monday. I couldn't turn it off.

How could you watch it and not notice that the Handler speaks every language?

[Borchkins]

2. Not you--you, but how could anyone

watch it and not notice the many different languages--again, not YOU!

[Behind the Aegis]

4. I understood.

We're good!

[Behind the Aegis]

3. The second season rocked, IMO.

My husband and I binged it too. And yes, the Handler speaks all languages and while I understand sensitivity to traditional anti-Semitic tropes, I don't see it here, in any form or fashion.

[exboyfil]

5. You can't get more Aryan than the cruel triplet assassins

The white husband is a lowsome character.

The only redeeming white guy beyond the principles is the conspiracy hound.

White racists trying to rape one of principles
White deputies brutalizing women and terrorizing a child
A cruel white FBI agent and nurse compliant in an unconstitutional interrogation

All white guys in the Majestic 12


All of the black characters are shown as uniformly noble especially the husband.

[cayugafalls]

6. Di eyer viln zayn kliger fun di hiner. The eggs think they're smarter than the chickens.

I thought it quite apropos for the situation.

I love Umbrella Academy and thought season 2 was great. Can't wait for season 3.

[MosheFeingold]

7. These kind of silly complaints make me mad

I reluctantly watched the show at the insistence of bored quarantined great grandchildren.

It's entertaining, if a bit inappropriate for children at several points.

I personally enjoyed hearing Yiddish on TV. The character in question is not openly Jewish and, as noted in the article, fluent in many many languages.

If anything, it's anti-Swedish. Those three brothers are creepy as heck.