Hasidic Jew Abe Karpen had been cast to portray Natalie Portman's husband in a segment of the upcoming anthology film New York I Love You, and had started filming scenes for the movie. He has dropped out of the film after causing controversy in the Hasidic community, which largely rejects mainstream entertainment. He has said that he dropped out of the film not to appease his community, but because the protest made him realize he was making a poor decision.

1. Age: 25
2. Origin: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
3. Film is a sequel to 2007's Paris Je T'aime
4. Karpen is a kitchen cabinet salesman
5. Married with three children
6. Had refused to hold Portman's hand in the film on religious grounds

• YouTube Video: Natalie Portman and Abe Karpen Love New York (Time: 0:51)
• Topix.net: Abe Karpen
• Google News: Abe Karpen
• The Dish: Hassidic Outrage over New Portman Movie (March 19, 2008)
• New York Daily News: Abe Karpen Articles
• New York Daily News: New York, I Love You Movie Stills
• ABC News: Actor Quits Big Break on Rabbis' Orders (March 18, 2008)
  • "He really didn't grasp that this was a movie and that Natalie Portman was a star. He thought it was more of a commercial, a short thing," said Isaac Abraham, a Hasidic community leader. "I think he was a little naive. He didn't grasp the magnitude of what he was doing."
• Showbiz Spy: Hasidic Jew drops out of Natalie Portman movie (March 16, 2008)
  • Karpen on working with Portman: "She's the only one I was willing to work with. I was shocked that she's a Hollywood big shot. We talked in Hebrew...She wants to become more religious."
• Huffington Post: Hasidic Actor Walks Off Natalie Portman Movie (March 15, 2008)
  • "Rabbis threatened to expel Karpen's children from their religious school unless he dropped out of the film."
• Gothamist: Hasidic Jew Must Leave Natalie Portman Movie (March 15, 2008)
  • Hasidic activist Isaac Weinberger on Karpen's role: "We don't watch television. We don't go to the movies, so to be in a movie is the worst thing. It's a shame for any Hasid."
• New York Daily News: Hasidic actor walks off Portman movie (March 15, 2008)
• Google Blog Search: Abe Karpen

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