The billionaire venture capitalist expresses his dismay at the hate directed towards Jews after Collison’s social media post of Tel Aviv sparks controversy.
Billionaire venture capitalist Josh Kushner is speaking out in defense of Patrick Collison, the CEO of Stripe, after the tech executive faced online criticism for posting an image of the Tel Aviv beachfront on social media. Collison, who co-founded the payment processing company Stripe, shared the early morning photo of the Israeli city on Wednesday, which quickly stirred controversy among pro-Palestinian supporters on X (formerly Twitter).
Kushner, who is the brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, responded to the backlash by voicing his disappointment over the hate directed toward Jews, calling out the intensity of the online vitriol. He wrote, “I’m deeply saddened by how much hatred people have for Jews” in his defense of Collison.
Collison’s photo, which was taken in Tel Aviv on the beachfront promenade, ignited heated debates online. Pro-Palestinian advocates took issue with his show of support for Israel during a time of intense geopolitical tensions.
Josh Kushner, who is the founder of Thrive Capital and an investor in Stripe, has used his platform to counter the criticism, emphasizing that such divisive online attacks only contribute to an atmosphere of hate. He made it clear that the photo shared by Collison was a simple portrayal of the Israeli city’s beauty and did not constitute a political statement.
The controversy highlights the growing divide on social media platforms, where public figures—especially those in business—are often caught in the crossfire of political conflicts. For Kushner, this moment serves as a reminder of the complex landscape surrounding international politics and the challenges faced by those with public profiles.
