The recent Emmy nomination of Bisan Atef Owda, a filmmaker with a documented history of antisemitic rhetoric and support for terrorism, has sparked widespread anguish and outrage. This unsettling choice should evoke a sense of déjà vu, as Hollywood has previously celebrated controversial figures with similarly reprehensible pasts.

Bisan Atef Owda has propagated antisemitic views on social media and openly supported the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization notorious for its violent activities. The PFLP proudly participated in the horrific October 7 pogrom and has a long history of atrocities, including pioneering airplane hijackings in the 1970s and committing numerous massacres against Americans and Israelis. Among their heinous acts was the brutal murder of five rabbis—four of them Americans—and an Israeli policeman in a Jerusalem synagogue in 2014.

Owda’s involvement with the PFLP is well-documented. She was a keynote speaker at a rally commemorating the PFLP’s 48th anniversary, where she donned the group’s uniform and called for the destruction of Israel. Her participation in PFLP-related activities continued as recently as 2018.

Despite this, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has nominated Owda’s documentary about Gaza for an Emmy. The film’s publisher, AJ+, is a division of Al Jazeera, an outlet often criticized for antisemitic content. This nomination is particularly ironic given that October 7 marked the deadliest single massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Hollywood has previously honored figures with deeply troubling pasts. In 2004, the Academy Awards paid tribute to Leni Riefenstahl, a filmmaker who created propaganda films for the Nazis. Riefenstahl was personally chosen by Adolf Hitler to produce works like “Triumph of the Will,” which is considered one of the most effective pieces of Nazi propaganda ever made. Renowned British filmmaker Arnold Schwartzman stated that Riefenstahl’s work significantly contributed to the atrocities committed by the Nazis, highlighting her role as Hitler’s most potent propaganda tool.

Riefenstahl even used Roma prisoners from concentration camps as extras in her films. Despite later claiming she did not support the Nazis, she sent Hitler a telegram after his conquest of Paris in 1940, praising his deeds as unparalleled in human history.

Shockingly, some Hollywood figures defended Riefenstahl. Actress Jodie Foster announced plans in 2005 to direct and star in a biopic about her, arguing that Riefenstahl had been unfairly maligned. The film was never made, not due to Foster’s change of heart but because Riefenstahl preferred Sharon Stone for the role.

Fortunately, many in the entertainment industry are taking a stand against Owda’s nomination. Over 100 actors and industry figures have signed a letter demanding the withdrawal of her Emmy nomination. The letter condemns the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for glorifying someone affiliated with an organization responsible for hijackings, bombings, and massacres, labeling it an affront to the industry’s values.

Adam Sharp, president of the National Academy, claimed he could not corroborate reports of Owda’s PFLP involvement. However, evidence of her activities is readily available online. Moreover, her recent social media posts continue to echo classic antisemitic tropes, such as claiming that Israel “occupies every corner of the world.”

While Hollywood cannot undo its past mistakes in celebrating figures like Leni Riefenstahl, there is still time before the September 15 Emmys for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to rescind Owda’s nomination. Doing so would prevent once again honoring someone who has supported mass murderers of Jews.