Hollywood actress Sharon Stone canceled a planned appearance at the Los Angeles Israeli Film Festival less than a week before she was scheduled to present an award, Hebrew media reported Thursday.

The star cited filming commitments, but the festival director suggested it may have been due to external pressure from anti-Israel activists. Stone has a history of supporting Jewish causes.

Stone was scheduled to attend Wednesday’s opening night of the 37th annual festival at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills to present the Vision Award to Jewish American producer Lawrence Bender. Five days before the event, she informed organizers that she would no longer be able to attend, according to Channel 12.

Stone cited a filming commitment in Australia as the reason for her cancellation, festival director and CEO Meir “Foggy” Fenigstein told Channel 12. Fenigstein said the timing of the decision was troubling and suggested it may have come amid outside pressure.

“I believe the cancellation came as a result of pressure being put on her,”........

© The Times of Israel