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Zelensky named among host of Jewish celebs in Time 100 list
The Ukrainian president was honoured by Joe Biden in the prestigious list
May 24, 2022 15:00
The Ukrainian president was honoured by Joe Biden in the prestigious list
May 24, 2022 15:00Jewish celebrities from across society have been named among other world leaders, artists and activists in Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
The world-famous list, which honoured nominees across six categories, has been published since 2004 and has featured world leaders, business tycoons and global superstars.
Volodomyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s Jewish president, who has been leading the country against the Russian onslaught which began in February, was named in the leaders' category.
He was praised in his entry by US president Joe Biden, who wrote of the former comedian: "With the support of the U.S. and our allies and partners, he has left his mark on history and proved to the world that Ukraine will long endure and its people will ultimately realize the democratic future they have long desired."
Photographer and opioid crisis activist Nan Goldin also received a nomination in the ‘pioneer’ category for her work after a career outside of the mainstream.
Ms Goldin was instrumental in leading protests against museums’ ties to the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma. As a survivor of Oxycontin addiction after it was prescribed for painful tendonitis in her left wrist, she led a campaign against the makers of the drug.
The Sackler family invented and marketed the opioid painkiller OxyContin, which contributed to the global opioid epidemic which has killed more than 450,000 Americans over the past two decades.
Other Jewish celebrities to make the prestigious list in the artist category include actors Mila Kunis, Andrew Garfield and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Ms Kunis, who has Ukranian Jewish heritage, was recognised for her efforts in launching a campaign that has raised over $36 million for Ukrainian refugees alongside husband Ashton Kutcher.
Actress Zoe Saldana wrote the entry about Kunis which said: “Seeing her fundraise for Ukraine and raise tens of millions: it’s what we have come to expect the Kutcher-Kunis clan to do, to always rise to the occasion. What needs to be done? They will take it upon themselves, they will initiate anything and everything in their power to be of service.”
Zoë Kravitz, daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz was honoured with actress Reese Witherspoon writing her entry.
“It would be very easy for Zoë to walk through the world in a different way, entitled and accomplished. But that’s not her style,” she wrote.
“She chooses the path of hard work, constantly innovating and pushing the status quo. She hustles, writes her own scripts, stays up all night until the job is done. I’ve watched it up close, and it never ceases to amaze me.”
Taika Waititi, the New Zealand actor and filmmaker of Jojo Rabbit and Thor:Ragnarok was also recognised for his acheivements, with fellow Jewish actor and director Sacha Baron Cohen saying that he "represents the best of the bygone era of wild, rock-star Hollywood types, mixed with the brilliance of a top auteur"
Jewish businessman Andy Jassy was listed in the Titans category, after becoming CEO of Amazon last year. Mr Jassy, who grew up in a suburban Jewish family in Scarsdale, New York pioneered Amazon’s cloud computing business and is a close associate of founder Jeff Bezos.
David Zaslav, CEO and President of Warner Bros. Discovery was also named in the list.