Montana Tucker
Appearances
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I think meeting the kids really hit me in a different way. One time I broke down and cried when I was with one of them. The other times I felt like I really had to stay strong. And then when I got back to my hotel after filming that day, I think I just like all my emotions came out. Because you can't understand like not only the trauma that they dealt with either when they were taken hostage or
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
It's the most criticized state in the entire universe. But you're right. It's something that needs to exist, and we need to protect it at all costs. And they're constantly at every angle being attacked. And, you know, speaking of the soldiers, and I visited a lot of the hospitals. I'm sure you did as well. And it is amazing to meet these people who— got out of their normal lives.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Like you said, they were doctors, they were lawyers, they were working at banks and they had to get up and leave and their resilience though. And they're, even though this is not something that I probably wanted to go do, they will go and fight for their country and for their people and do whatever it takes to save their, their people. And I think that is something that is so beautiful.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
It's crazy that this is now my whole life, but I'm so thankful for it, and I couldn't think of doing anything else. My grandparents are Holocaust survivors, and I grew up hearing their stories my entire life, never forget, never again. And my grandparents spoke at all the schools down in South Florida and around the world, and to anyone that would hear them, they would share their stories.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Of course, I get those comments all the time.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
It's not. And I think for me, seeing this and hearing this, it's just, I heard my grandparents' stories. They were exactly like this. Like, this is literally how the Holocaust started. You know, these types of revolutions or attacks, et cetera. But the whole world, the difference is, like, Jews around the world now can speak up. Like we have a voice. We're able to speak up.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
We're able to do something. So when we see this and non-Jews, this is the time everyone needs to step up and say, this is not OK. Like this is unacceptable. Enough. Enough. And like they always say, you know, what starts with the Jews doesn't end with the Jews. Number one. And the West, it could be next. And that's why everyone needs to take this extremely seriously.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I would hear about what they had to go through, what Jews had to go through, And I really, that never again and never forget stood with me my whole life. And when my Zadie passed away four years ago at the age of 97, my grandma is still alive today at age 96. I just knew that I had to now take over their legacy and their goal and their mission. And when October 7th happened specifically,
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Yep. I hope eventually the entire world wakes up and really realizes that. Do you think it's changing? Do you think people are slowly but surely? I do.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
something came over me that it was like, okay, this is now my time. I have a platform of a combined following of 14 million followers. If I don't use it to educate people of what is actually going on, the truth of what is going on, you know, I've been back to Israel now for three times.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I'm going again in a few weeks and I'm trying to interview as many people as I can and show the truth about what is going on.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
That's how they got the floor plans and everything. A lot of them actually knew they worked there.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I think we've seen that now for sure across the board.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
You know, in the beginning, I didn't necessarily interview children. I met one girl, Emily Hand, who was a hostage. She was probably the first child that I met. This was closer to the beginning, right after she got released.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And again, I think because I heard my grandparents' stories and my grandma was 13 when she was taken to Auschwitz, I think meeting the kids really hit me in a different way because a lot of them, I interviewed kids from 11 to 17. And their stories and looking them in the eye, sharing their stories with me. One time I broke down and cried when I was with one of them.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
The other times I felt like I really had to stay strong. And then when I got back to my hotel after filming that day, I think all my emotions came out. Because you can't understand not only the trauma that they dealt with either when they were taken hostage or... I interviewed a kid who saw Hamas kill both his parents right in front of him.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And then he had to hide under his mother's dead body for a few hours so that Hamas would think that he was dead as well. Can you imagine laying under your mother's dead body just to survive? And... You hear that and you know the trauma that they dealt with then. But now the lifetime of trauma that these kids are going to have to deal with. They're never going to be the same, ever.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Now this kid is missing both of his parents. Another kid was a hostage for 54 days and his father is still a hostage. I mean, you can't even understand what these families are going through and these kids are going through. A lot of the women that I interviewed, you know, the sexual abuse that they endured or the mental abuse that they endured.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I've become friends with a lot of them now, and I feel like they're all my family, you know. So it's... It's hit me a lot. Very, very hard. I think the kids is the one that hit me the most. But I think the more I meet these people, the more it makes me want to fight harder. Because I know what they've been through. And I know what they're going to continue to go through.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Yeah. So I did build my following on dancing, on singing, on acting. I would collaborate with Paul Abdul, Terry Crews, Lance Bass from NSYNC, Ric Flair, the wrestler. So I would really collaborate with all kinds of amazing people. And that's what people followed me for.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I know that it's... I feel it's my absolute responsibility to make sure their stories are told and shared with the world. And I've posted just small clips on my social media already. And they already have like... almost 20 million views across platforms of just their small clips. And the full-length documentary is coming out in December.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I think that, again, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of the conflict necessarily or what your opinions are. When you hear from these kids and you hear their personal stories, I think all of that goes away and you really feel for what happened to them.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And they just sent out the polio vaccines, right?
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I heard a story last night about a group of IDF soldiers that went, they were in Gaza and they went into an area, I'm not sure exactly what building, and a kid was booby trapped with a bomb, a detonator. And they had a kid there with a detonator. And I think it was like 10 maybe IDF soldiers that were right there. And they all made the decision to not kill the kid, of course.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So when I did my Holocaust series specifically, that was a really big risk for my platforms because people were not following me to see me cry and to see me talk about something so serious, especially the Holocaust. They were following me to see me dance on the streets and, you know, sing. So it was definitely a big risk and I think shock to the world, but it really made a huge impact.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And then six of them died and four of them, received because of this, what happened, because they said, we're not going to kill a kid.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
That's something I feel like people keep forgetting about this war. If you look at the history of wars, It's not even comparable.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I interviewed a kid who saw Hamas kill both of his parents right in front of him. And then he had to hide under his mother's dead body for a few hours so that Hamas would think that he was dead as well. Can you imagine laying under your mother's dead body just to survive?
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I mean, the people that they've taken out this year has not only helped Israel, it's helped their U.S.-wanted terrorists.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And, you know, especially when I first started talking about Israel, I lost hundreds of thousands of followers. The death threats, I mean, I'm sure you can fully understand and relate the death threats every day, still to this day, the death threats that I get are insane. But I also gained a whole new following of people who really share my morals and values and missions.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Of course. They use any excuse to criticize Israel, any excuse whatsoever. That's why I know I have to do everything I can to keep standing for Israel in every way, shape, and form. And that's why I continue to go back and continue to share the real stories and share what's actually happening on the grounds. And I also try to humanize the IDF. I think that's another thing that
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
the world has dehumanized the IDF completely. And I think sharing personal stories like you just shared and like I just shared are so important for people to hear like actually the morality of the IDF as well.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
It's been the craziest year of my life, I have to say. I think I've barely been home. Florida is my home and I have a place in LA and I feel like I'm like just barely in either place. But this is the most important thing that I could ever do in my life.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I think any Jew specifically that is not standing up right now in their own ways, you don't have to be on social media like me and be as outspoken as I am on social media. But this is the craziest time for Jews since the Holocaust, right? back then, and I keep reiterating this, it didn't matter how famous you were, how successful you were during the Holocaust.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
If you were Jewish, that was it for you. Didn't matter. Nowadays, that's different. And we need to make sure that we all speak up and do something in our own ways because this is what our ancestors couldn't have done or weren't able to do back then.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So for me, if I have the opportunity to use my platforms to combat anti-Semitism, to combat all forms of hate, to debunk the crazy propaganda that's going out there, if I have the opportunity to speak around the world and make a difference, I have to do it. I have to do it. So it's been—I'm always tired, for sure, just— I'm constantly tired.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
But I think when I meet all my trips to Israel every single time, it inspires me more and more to keep going and to keep speaking up. And the more people that I meet, also online, it could be a scary, terrible place. I know you understand that. And the crazy messages I receive are crazy. But the messages that I also receive from people around the world saying like, I was ready to give up.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And then I saw your post and you inspired me. Or I was ashamed to be Jewish. I didn't want to wear my Megin David. And then I see all of your necklaces all the time and how prideful you are. And you've inspired me not to put my necklace back on. So it comes with also a lot of love and support. I'll be on the street and somebody will come up to me and just say, thank you for what you're doing.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So all of that keeps me going and makes me want to go even harder and speak up even more.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And not only is it the echo chamber of Jews or pro-Israel activists, I really have a following of people of all races, religions, walks of life who are now actually being educated about this and now really are understanding what's going on.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
That's beautiful. I also did a rally called Christians for Israel in San Diego. And it was so beautiful. There were pastors, pastors, giving sermons. I mean, the way they were speaking about Israel and their love for Israel and how they're standing by Jews no matter what. And the crowd was just so diverse and so beautiful. And there was actually a counter protest, of course, right across from us.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And everyone that got on stage to speak, they would say, thank you to the protest. Thank you guys for being here. Thank you for so much. We just kept spreading love and kept going on. But to see the allies come together, I think, has been so beautiful. And I also like I don't know if you know Loai al-Sharif. He's a Muslim peace activist. He's incredible the way he speaks about Israel.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I went on birthright. That was my first time 11 years ago on birthright. And I fell in love. Absolutely. I just hadn't gone back, not for any specific reason. I just hadn't gone back. But I always would talk about how I needed to go back. And now I can't. Now they can't keep me away. I'm like, my mom literally has to drag me out of Israel. I'm like, I want to be there 24-7.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
There's another one, Loai, who's from Yemen. And he was literally grew up to hate Jews, of course. And he went to Israel for his first time and then. his whole perspective changed and he now stands for Israel and stands up for Jews. And there's a lot of amazing people who have also come out and have showed their, their pride for Israel and standing for Israel, not just the Jews, which is amazing.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
You know, for me, I think I've tried to share the same message in different ways. I feel like that's been my goal since the 7th is to continue to share the same message just in different ways. And as we know, social media, everyone's algorithm is different. A video can land on this page and not land on this person's page.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And so for me, it's been important to do these unique ways of sharing the message. That's why the Nova dance video specifically was kind of a crazy idea. Everyone thought you're going to do a dance video at the Nova site with Nova survivors, a dance video. Like, how could you think to do that? And I knew that people went to the Nova festival to dance.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I got together a bunch of the survivors and I asked them if they'd be comfortable with this. The dance group that is in my video, they lost three of their members at Nova. And they dedicated a whole dance piece to Nova. So everything came together. The person that designed my outfit is really everyone that had also friends that were lost in Nova.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So every single person involved in that video had a real attachment to what happened there. And to see the survivors with me at the end of the video, holding my hand, walking powerfully. Moran, Steli and I was actually a hostage for 54 days. She was taken from Nova. She's in my video with me and I love her so much.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
But to see her, she told me that she showed right behind us of where we did the video was where she had to run to escape, where she tried to escape. So to have her be there. after she dealt with everything that she dealt with, to see her standing strong and dancing again. And that video, when you first watch a video, you think it's like a music video.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So it attracted a different audience from people who may not care about the conflict or want to see me speak about this again. They thought they were watching a dance video. And then all of a sudden, halfway through, you're hit with the reality of what happened at NOVA.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And again, the children of October 7th, why I think this is so important is I think really hearing from these kids is going to impact people in a really different way. I'm going to Israel, like I said, November 30th, and we're going to do like a small premiere there with...
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
all the families with President Herzog and make it really special because, you know, this is really about the kids and their families. And like I said, I think it's going to really impact people in a big way. I'm going back to Israel in January to film a movie. So I just have a lot of amazing things going on. So the movie that I'm filming in January, I can't say too much about yet.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
But I also just filmed one that's coming out in April called Mob Cops. where I play a detective's wife. So that one has nothing to do with Israel, but that one's really cool. I can't wait for that one to come out. And I'm also doing another one called The Mench with Jonah Platt.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
I was actually in LA, and I was actually going to celebrate one of my great friend's birthdays that day. And I don't know about you, but when I found out, it was like, I felt like I got hit by a truck, and obviously I'm just in my nice apartment in LA, and I felt like my whole world just crashed.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So a lot of really exciting things going on, but my number one priority is combating anti-Semitism, standing for Israel, and trying to make a real difference in this crazy world. So that's my dream.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Thank you so much. You're the best. Thank you.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I don't know if it's like generational trauma or what it is exactly, but I think most Jews around the world specifically felt this feeling. And I just, like, I couldn't do anything. I ended up not leaving my apartment for a whole week. I felt sick to my stomach. I felt guilty even enjoying my beautiful view while this is going on in Israel.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I think that is what really instilled this, like, I need to do everything that I can in me. I went to a rally. The first time I kind of left was a rally that they had in Los Angeles. And I marched with Floyd Mayweather, actually. He's been awesome. I don't know how familiar you are, but he's... gone to Israel now, I think twice or three times since October 7th.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And he's donated so much and really has, he really cares so much. And it's amazing. So we marched like the entire time side by side. And that was kind of my first time leaving. And then my first time at a rally, actually. Now I've been to like hundreds since, but that was my first time at a rally.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I was like, okay, there are so many other people that are here feeling the exact same way that I'm feeling. We're in this together, like I can do this. And then that kind of inspired me to go full force.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Well, that just shows you that I think this has been built up inside of them for a long time. And I think that it just now looks socially acceptable. And for a long time, I feel like it wasn't as socially acceptable to be just flat out anti-Semitic. But now, literally, as we see on social media, as we see on the campuses, it's literally popular and trending to be anti-Semitic, anti-Israel.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Like, I'm seeing it so much on social media. It's crazy what videos, like, are going viral are really these hateful things. videos of people who have no skin in the game or people who have no clue truly about the conflict. But social media, it's like pushing this.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And on campuses, kids who feel maybe like they haven't found themselves or they haven't found a group, they're seeing how it's popular to do these encampments or it's popular to do these crazy protests. So they're following along because they want to feel like they're a part of something. It's crazy.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Unfortunately, I blame social media for a lot of it. I think that this is where kids aren't watching CNN and Fox all day long. They're just not. They're on their phones. You know, that's what they're getting their information. Kids literally search like I go to Google still. I don't know about you when you're looking something up, but the younger generation goes to TikTok.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
They search on TikTok for any of their news, for any of their information that they want to know. They don't go to Google. They go literally to TikTok. And TikTok, I think, is the most toxic place. It's sad to me because that's my biggest platform. I have 9.2 million followers just on TikTok alone. And it's been an incredible part of my career and my life.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And it used to be a place that I feel like was so loving and accepting of everyone. Like it didn't matter what you looked like, where you're from, like anyone had the opportunity to go viral. And I feel like it would push like the more unique you were, like the better on TikTok. Like I really loved that about the app. And I feel like now it's turned into like
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
such a hateful place that videos don't get removed when they should. And videos are getting removed when they shouldn't. Like I'll have a video that gets 5 million views on Instagram and on TikTok, it'll get taken down immediately when there's nothing in the video that should be taken down for.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
Of course. That's why I keep trying to do as much as I can to debunk any of that. And that's why I keep going back to Israel. I keep interviewing. I've met with so many of the release hostages. I just filmed a documentary called The Children of October 7th on my last trip to Israel because I don't care what people think about the conflict or what side you're on or how much you think.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
When you hear from these kids, these kids were there. They were there that day. They're sharing their real personal stories, not anything political or anything of opinions of anyone else. They are sharing what actually happened to them.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I feel like that's why I try to share those because everyone can relate in some way, whether they everyone has a had to have has a mom, a dad, a sister, a brother, a cousin, like someone they feel like they can relate to. And when you hear these stories, I think they really open people's minds.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So many. I think a thing that people don't realize, this is not specifically about the conflict, but I'm sure you know as many times as you've been to Israel, how Israel is an apartheid state. I think that one bothers me so much because you land in Israel, and I think I've never seen a more diverse group of people in one area.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
It's insane and amazing and beautiful how many different types of people coexist in Israel. It's really beautiful, and I think that's something that people don't know. They think it's just white Jews that live there. And there are so many different types of Jews that live in Israel, too. So I think that is something that I'm really trying to show as well.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And people ask a lot of the times, like, oh, is it just like white Jews that live there? And they think that no Arabs live there at all. And the statistics are incredible of like how many actually live there and live there peacefully. And I've talked to them. I'll go up to them and ask them how they feel. I don't know if you're familiar with the Druze community. Yes. but which they're incredible.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And I've met with them, and they said Israel's the most amazing place they've ever been, and they love it. Or a group of South African 20-year-olds, we met them on the beach of Tel Aviv. We asked if they were just visiting, and they said, no, we live here. We've lived here for a few years. We're Israeli, and this is the best decision we've ever made.
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
So I think those are some misconceptions that people always ask. I think also hearing from Israelis, everyone truly wants peace there. I think that's something that also is getting so...
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
misconstrued like they want peace they want this to end they want peace you know uh obviously everyone wants to get rid of hamas that's not a question um but they want peace they want peace there and i think that there's just such a misconception of israel and israelis i mean the the last part that you speak about there is is so obviously true if you spend any time there and if you meet anyone i mean here's the thing in the west very few people have actually served in the military the draft in the united states ended during the vietnam war that's now 50 years ago
The Ben Shapiro Show
Debunking Social Media Lies | Montana Tucker
And, you know, what happened with—and I don't know if we're talking too much about what happened in Amsterdam, but that also proves why Israel needs to exist. I think that is, like, one of the perfect examples of why Israel needs to exist and why— the calling for the globalizing the intifada, what that actually means. And I don't know. I think that Israel is so criticized.