Story perspectives

Mirren Wins Taormina Award, Condemns Harassment, Rising Evil

6/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Police released November 2025 footage of Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford being insulted and closed the case after they declined to press charges.
Mirren said the attacker was “over-passionate or mentally not quite stable” and acted on misinformation.
She warned “evil forces are rising everywhere, in a country like Israel,” calling Palestinian treatment “crimes against humanity.”
She received an award at Italy’s Taormina Film Festival on June 12, 2026.

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Story summary

Police released November 2025 footage of Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford being insulted and closed the case after they declined to press charges.
Mirren said the attacker was “over-passionate or mentally not quite stable” and acted on misinformation.
She warned “evil forces are rising everywhere, in a country like Israel,” calling Palestinian treatment “crimes against humanity.”
She received an award at Italy’s Taormina Film Festival on June 12, 2026.