Tracy-Ann Oberman, 58, rips into Dawn French, 67, over ‘mocking’ October 7 rant: 'Why would you deny our pain?!'

In the video, posted to social media on Thursday, French commented on the Middle East conflict, stating: “Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no.”

She then appeared to parody justifications for Israel’s military response in Gaza following the 2023 Hamas-led massacre, saying: “‘Yeah but you know they did a bad thing to us’...

I am so saddened by this post . This mocking voice ‘bad thing’ of October 7 that Dawn ( who I revere by the way) appears ro be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape sexual violence burning alive child mutilation and taking of civilian hostages .… https://t.co/k0N0a3fHjy

— Tracy-Ann Oberman (@TracyAnnO) June 6, 2025

“Yeah, but no. ‘But we want that land and there’s a lot of history…’. No. ‘These people are not even people, are they really?’ No.”

In response to the viral tweet - which has since garnered over six million views - West End star and playwright Tracy-Ann Oberman criticised Dawn French’s tone as “mocking.”

The 58-year-old Jewish actress reposted French’s video, writing: “I am so saddened by this post.

“This mocking voice ‘bad thing’ of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears to be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape, sexual violence, burning alive child, mutilation and the taking of civilian hostages.”

She continued: “Why would Dawn seem to deny that which has affected so many of us personally in the most painful way possible.

“I can mourn the horrors of the war in Gaza whilst also remembering the horrors of what started it. Is this how most of our industry feels now – Oct 7 was a ‘little thing’? NO!”

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Oberman wasn’t the only public figure to condemn French’s remarks. Other prominent voices, including Piers Morgan, also weighed in.

Reposting French’s tweet, Morgan wrote: “Oct 7 wasn’t just a ‘bad thing’ as you so mockingly describe it - it was one of the most heinous, despicable terror attacks of modern times.

"It’s perfectly legitimate to criticise the Israeli Govt’s current strategy, but downplaying Oct 7 is a terrible way to do it.”

Oscar-nominated comedy writer Lee Kern also expressed outrage, writing: “What you sneeringly mock as a ‘bad thing’ included the grieving children I met in hospital whose friends and family had been murdered, kidnapped and raped and who themselves were coming to terms with their own life-altering injuries.

“It also includes the 1,200 people murdered and tortured on October 7th… you proactively broadcast - with misplaced pride - a wicked glee in your mockery and dismissal of Jewish suffering, pain and death.”

Following the backlash, and specifically Oberman’s criticism, French posted a clarification, stating she did not intend to dismiss the October 7 attacks.

In a message on social media, she wrote: “I do not say ‘a little thing’. In NO WAY do I support the atrocities of Oct 7th. Of course not. Appalling. Horrific.

“But starving innocent children is not the answer. NO is the answer to ALL of it, Tracy.”

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023, massacre carried out by Hamas, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage.

Currently, 56 hostages are still being held by the terrorist group in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive.

At least 54,677 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.