Van Jones Apologizes for His ‘Insensitive and Hurtful’ Comment About Children in Gaza: ‘I’m Praying and Working for an Immediate End to This War’

CNN political analyst Van Jones took to X on Sunday to apologize for his comment about children in Gaza made during his Friday appearance on “Real Time With Bill Maher.”

“I made a comment on ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’ about the war in Gaza that was insensitive and hurtful. I apologize,” Jones wrote. “The suffering of the people of Gaza — especially the children — is not a punch line. I’m deeply sorry it came across that way. What’s happening to children in Gaza is heartbreaking. As a father, I can’t begin to imagine the pain their parents are enduring, unable to protect their kids from unimaginable harm.”

He continued, “I’m praying and working for an immediate end to this war — and for peace and safety for every family caught in its path. I’m truly sorry for the pain my words caused to people who are already suffering more than anyone should.”

While on “Real Time,” Jones made a comment about the frequency of horrific images on social media stemming from the conflict between Israel and Palestine that some found highly offensive. He said, “Iran and Qatar have come up with a disinformation campaign that they are running through TikTok and Instagram that is massive. If you are a young person, you are opening up your phone, and all you see is—dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, Diddy, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby.”

The war in Gaza has been top of mind for many in Hollywood. On Sept. 10, over 3,900 industry names, including Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Lily Gladstone, Mark Ruffalo, pledged to avoid collaboration with Israeli film companies that are “whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them.”

Weeks later, 1,200 names from Hollywood, including Liev Schreiber, Mayim Bialik and Debra Messing, signed an open letter denouncing the boycott of Israeli film institutions. The letter stated that “to censor the very voices trying to find common ground and express their humanity, is wrong, ineffective and a form of collective punishment.”