Top 5 Jewish Celebrity Stories of 2022

Noa Kirel (Facebook)

Wow! 2022 was a big year for Jewish celebrities and their crazy stories. From Steven Spielberg apologizing to sharks while coming out with a new movie, to The Flash star Ezra Miller just being himself, it was a great ride for the world’s first official post-Covid year.

Here is Jewish Business News’ list of the 5 biggest stories about Jewish celebrities from 2022.

5 – Noa Kirel Named a Talented Emerging Artist

Noa Kirel is only 20 years old, but she has already served in the Israeli Army, established a successful music career, hosted the Miss Universe pageant when it was held in Israel last year and become the face of a number of advertising campaigns in Israel. And back in February Noa Kirel was named one of the “Talented Emerging Artists” for 2022 by People Magazine.

But Noa Kirel did not just make the list, she placed number two on it.

“Noa Kirel is for the girls,” said People.” “This 20-year-old pop queen tells PEOPLE she’s ‘all about embracing yourself, being an independent woman, owning what you got and working hard to achieve your dreams.’”

4 – Steven Spielberg Apologized to Sharks
Oscar winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg made an apology to sharks the world over for what he pays was how they were perceived as a result of his 1975 blockbuster movie Jaws. So, Steven Spielberg is apologizing to an entire species of animals; even though tonight is the start of Chanukah, not Yom Kippur.

So, what exactly did Steven Spielberg say anyway? Well, in an appearance on the BBC’s “Desert Island Discs” hosted by Lauren Laverne, the 3 time Oscar winner said, “I truly and to this day regret the decimation of the shark population because of the book and the film. I really, truly regret that.”

Almost 40 years late and Steven Spielberg is still scared “sharkless” by sharks, but not being eaten by one. Spielberg said that he fears “that sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sports fishermen that happened after 1975.”

Adam Sandler in Hustle (promo pic)

3 – Adam Sandler Getting Mark Twain Prize 2023
Adam Sandler is finally getting some recognition for his long career as a comic. The Saturday Night Live Alum was named the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor for 2023. The prize is bestowed by the Kennedy Center.

The award signifies that Adam Sandler is being taken seriously as an American comic. When Sandler broke out in the 1990s with hit comedies like “The Wedding Singer” and “Happy Gilmore” people thought of him as nothing more than a silly physical comic – good for some laughs but not to be taken seriously. But more recently he has gotten recognition for some serious roles in movies like “Uncut Gems” and “Hustle.”

2 – Jerry Springer Admitted He Ruined Culture
In November, Jerry Springer finally came out and admitted that he may very well have personally ruined western culture as we know it. When this sort of thing happens people usually view it as a sign that the coming of the Messiah is imminent.

In an interview with David Yontef’s Behind the Velvet Rope podcast Jerry Springer admitted his role in the devolution of political discourse and public debate in America which bang long befor the advent of the blogosphere saying, “I just apologize. I’m so sorry. What have I done? I’ve ruined the culture.”

“I just hope hell isn’t that hot because I burn real easy,” he quipped.

Jerry Springer, of course, is the man who stole the daytime talk show format pioneered by Phil Donahue in the 1970s and turned it into a travesty of American culture. Donahue had devoted his program to informing the public of a multitude of social issues long before it became acceptable to discuss them in public. In the 1980s Oprah Winfrey became a household name by copying this format. And then in the 1990s just about everyone, from Ricki Lake to Geraldo Rivera, had their own daytime talk show. But it was the Jerry Springer Show that was undeniably the worst of the worst.

1 – The Ezra Miller Saga
How can you possibly top the absurdity, the stupidity and the insanity of the whole Ezra Miller saga of 2022? Obviously, this came in at number one on our list.

In October, the Flash star Ezra Miller pled not guilty in a Vermont court to felony burglary charges. Miller faces up to 26 years in prison if convicted. In August, the actor was arrested and charged with felony burglary over the theft of several bottles of liquor from a private home. Just like in the movies, his story keeps getting sequels.

Ezra Miller allegedly took the alcohol from the home when the owners were away. They filed a police report and surveillance videos reportedly showed enough evidence to charge Miller with the crime.

Ezra Miller as The Flash (promo pic)

Ezra Matthew Miller was born in New Jersey to a Jewish father and a Christian mother and identifies as a spiritual Jew. He began learning opera at the age of six and sang with the Metropolitan Opera. The actor identifies as non-binary – not being either male or female – and has never been married.

In recent months, Ezra Miller has been accused of grooming and “brainwashing” an underage girl and then “kidnapping” her when she came of age, as well as leading his own personal cult. He was also accused of assaulting a woman in Berlin in February. And a Massachusetts family received a restraining order against Ezra Miller who they say had an inappropriate relationship with their then 11-year-old son who is now 12.

In August Ezra Miler released to the media in which he tried to apologize for his bizarre and possibly criminal activities of late, blaming everything on his psychological issues.

“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” said Miller.

“I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life,” added the Flash star.