A puppet show sponsored in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts has drawn criticism after a Jewish mother alleged it included anti-Israel propaganda. The performance, titled "The Cardboard Pizza Puppet Circus" and created by the Boxcutter Collective, was part of the International Puppet Fringe Festival held in Lower Manhattan.
The mother, who attended the Aug. 13 show with her 4-year-old son, stated that approximately 15 minutes into the performance, the show shifted from its described New York-centric themes to political commentary critical of Israel. She reported that the show included accusations of Israel bombing hospitals and remarks about American tax dollars funding the nation.
"The anti-Israel stuff came out of nowhere," the mother told The Post. "It went from pizza rat and parallel parking to accusations of Israel bombing hospitals."
The performance reportedly included a skit reenacting a flotilla, which elicited jeers against Israel from some audience members. The mother described the atmosphere as one where she felt surrounded by "ideological enemies" and that the group displayed "very antisemitic views."
She also noted that her son repeatedly asked what was happening as she became visibly taken aback by the content. The mother, a refugee from the Soviet Union, expressed concern that she was experiencing a new form of antisemitism in New York.
The Boxcutter Collective has a history of political engagement, having performed in "Gaza Monologues" in November 2023, described as a response to the conflict in Gaza. The troupe also performed during "The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People."
Manuel Moran, the festival's founder and producer, indicated that organizers may not have been fully aware of the troupe's content, stating that "the full content of a production is not always known in advance, and the company premiered many elements of this work as part of the event." He added that the festival provides a platform for artists but that artists are responsible for their own work.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, criticized the event, posting on X that "This is an inappropriate use of public resources. Publicly funded cultural programming should never contribute to an environment in which Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe."
Calls to the Boxcutter Collective, the International Puppet Fringe Festival, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and the New York State Council on the Arts for comment were not immediately returned.