L.A.'s Bruin Theatre Revival in Jeopardy as Operator Faces Antisemitism Accusations
Rui Pereira, the new operator of Los Angeles' Bruin Theatre, dismissed his past antisemitic and racist social media posts as irrelevant to his work, calling the controversy "nonsense." Local Jewish groups have denounced him, and an investigation by IndieWire revealed a history of unpaid debts and unlicensed screenings. Pereira claims he is just a working person selling popcorn and showing films, and suggests the criticism stems from his hosting of Israel-critical documentaries.
The Bruin Theatre, an 88-year-old Westwood landmark, reopened under a lease signed in July by Canadian exhibitor Rui Pereira after a prior deal with director Jason Reitman collapsed. Pereira operates without investors, funding the venture himself. His Toronto venues previously screened the Israel-critical documentaries *No Other Land* and *Palestine 36*, which he suggests may have triggered the scrutiny. The theatre’s owners, descendants of former 20th Century Fox president Spyros Skouras, have not commented. The Bruin sits in a heavily Jewish area of Los Angeles, and recent on-screen appearances include *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* and FX’s *The Shards*.
This controversy could affect the Bruin’s revival by alienating local Jewish patrons and community groups, potentially reducing foot traffic and press coverage. It may also prompt other venues to scrutinize operators’ public statements more carefully. The dispute highlights how cultural institutions become battlegrounds for broader political tensions, with the theatre’s future hinging on whether Pereira can separate his online history from his business role.