Yet Another Jewish Artist Cancelled (UPDATE)

The owner of an independent Nashville bookstore took a strong stand for free speech earlier this week.

It didn’t last long.

Bell Bird Books owner Mary Ann Weprin told The Tennessean why her store is open to diverse points of view.

“My mission for Bell Bird Books has always been to create a welcoming, warm space where neighbors could gather to share stories and learn from one another,” Weprin said. “We believe independent bookstores play a vital role in their communities, and hosting author events is an extension of that mission.”

The statement came in response to author Alyssa Rosenheck’s upcoming appearance at the store. The author of “White. Blonde. Jew.” (available Aug. 18) was slated to promote her book.

Not anymore. The store cancelled the book launch and didn’t respond to The Tennessean’s request for comment.

A Statement Regarding the Cancellation of My Nashville Book Launch: On Sunday, July 26, Bell Bird Books communicated it no longer felt it could continue promoting either me or my upcoming Nashville book launch for White. Blonde. Jew.

Two days later on July 28th, the bookstore… pic.twitter.com/QitfVmhSIK

— Alyssa Rosenheck (@AlyssaRosenheck) July 31, 2026

Rosenheck, a cancer survivor and professional photographer, shares her plea for peace in the new book. The subtitle? “A Call to End Extremism, Speak Up, and Reclaim Center.”

Unseen forces vowed to boycott the store and claimed the event promoted “Zionism.”

None of this is new or shocking.

Other Jewish artists have faced similar cancellations in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.

• Matisyahu
• Michael Rapaport
• Brett Gelman
• Guy Hochman
• Kosha Dillz
• Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon

The latest cancellation is part of a disturbing, three-part process that keeps happening in a culture where antisemitism is soaring.

Part one: A Jewish artist agrees to appear at a venue to either talk about their work or perform

Part two: Pro-Palestinian protesters vow to boycott the event/club, slam the venue and, sometimes, threaten violence

Part three: The venue meekly backs down

There’s more to this frightening process. The Legacy Media gives the cancellations limited, if any, coverage. Imagine if a black singer faced a sudden cancellation due to his or her skin color?

The response would be dramatically different, no?

Groups like the ACLU take a knee rather than defend the artists’ speech rights. The once-mighty civil rights group is too busy praising Bruce Springsteen for turning his latest tour into a No Kings jamboree.

We collectively shrug our shoulders, refusing to care that Jewish artists face a growing threat to their livelihoods and free expression rights.

Let’s face it. Jewish artists getting cancelled for being Jewish is The New Normal. It’s also why Jewish-themed events require extra security now.

This critic attended two Jewish film screenings last year. Both featured bulked-up security measures to keep the participants safe.

When Rapaport performed at Denver Comedy Works last year, the club used workers to “wand” patrons to ensure no weapons entered the building.

Phelim McAleer’s “October 7” play also required extra security to keep the cast and patrons safe.

Where is The Hollywood Reporter? Variety? The New York Times?

The lack of outrage may be the most frightening part of it all. 

We saw plenty of A-list stars rally behind Jimmy Kimmel following his one-week ABC suspension last year. The same community also rallied behind fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert after CBS cancelled his show due to massive money loss.

Yet these stars won’t share a syllable about Rosenheck’s cancellation, if past is prologue.

Three-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton is a rare, and welcome, exception.

THIS IS NOT THE NASHVILLE WAY. Shame on #bellbirdbooks – a new bookstore that was planning on launching Nashville photographer Alyssa Rosenheck’s new book #WhiteBlondeJew until bookstore owner Mary Ann Weprin caved to hatred, bigotry and ignorance and cancelled the launch. Oddly,… https://t.co/UJ1cavyRph

— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) August 1, 2026

Let’s give Rosenheck the final word:

No business that pretends to give a voice to all points of view should kowtow to the bigots who would silence an author because of her religion or her strongly held beliefs.

UPDATE: The owner of Bell Bird Books played the “Victim Card” while responding to the cancellation.

Mary Ann Weprin claims she doesn’t support silencing authors, but the need for extra security proved too much for her modest shop. She also complained about being labeled as antisemitic and receiving angry messages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Bell Bird Books (@bbbooksnashville)

Heaton responded to the owner’s comments on X.

Yes, there is definitely a cost – financially, socially, relationally. But one bears that burden because of all those who have come before us – the Holocaust victims in WWll, the victims of the World Trade Center attack; the slaughtered Christians in Nigeria; the innocents murdered on October 7th; for the Bibas family, for Hersch Goldberg Polin, for those who survived but who have ended their lives because of unbearable pain inflicted upon them; for all those young Israelis who are currently giving their lives to protect not only their own country but our way of life in the West. We do it for them, and for the future good of the world. It requires a foundational commitment to truth that will not be comprised, that will not back down. That is the only way. That is the Nashville way.