TED Fellows Resign Over Controversial Speaker Invitation

Six TED fellows resign, accusing the organization of aligning with 'genocide apologists' after inviting billionaire Bill Ackman, known for his pro-Israel stance, as a main speaker.

Six TED fellows, including astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz and filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky, have resigned over the organization's decision to invite billionaire Bill Ackman as a main speaker at an upcoming conference.
The fellows accuse Ackman of being a 'genocide apologist' for his comments justifying Israel's military campaign in Gaza and his role in the ousting of Harvard President Claudine Gay over antisemitism allegations.
The fellows claim that TED has taken an anti-Palestinian stance by inviting speakers like Ackman and journalist Bari Weiss, who have a history of anti-Palestinian speech, while not inviting any Palestinian speakers.
Ackman has been accused of weaponizing accusations of antisemitism against those who criticize Israel and of attempting to purge American universities of pro-Palestinian freedom of speech.
The TED fellows' resignation letter states that they are no longer willing to be associated with an organization that aligns itself with supporters of genocide and amplifies their propaganda.