Javier Bardem among celebrities urging Israel to end ‘Genocide’ at 2025 Emmys
The 77th Emmy Awards saw several celebrities using the global stage to voice support for Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, signaling a growing cultural boycott movement within the entertainment industry.
Academy Award winner Javier Bardem made one of the strongest statements of the night, appearing with a kaffiyeh around his neck and declaring "Free Palestine." Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter before the ceremony, Bardem said he refused to discuss his own nominated project, instead addressing the war in Gaza.
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"At the end of August, the International Association of Genocide Scholars declared what is happening in Gaza a genocide," Bardem said. "That's why we're calling for sanctions and a commercial and diplomatic blockade of Israel to stop this. Free Palestine."
He emphasised his involvement in the Film Workers for Palestine movement, which urges boycotts of institutions tied to Israel's film industry. "We are not targeting people by identity — we are targeting complicit institutions," Bardem said, adding that he would not work with companies that fail to condemn the violence.
Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, who won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, echoed the call for justice. "I have friends in Gaza working as frontline doctors and teachers in refugee camps," she said backstage. "As a Jewish person, I feel obligated to distinguish between Judaism and the state of Israel. This boycott is about pressuring institutions complicit in the genocide — not individuals."
Other stars joined in subtle but powerful acts of solidarity. Ruth Negga, Chris Perfetti and Aimee Lou Wood wore red ceasefire pins, while Megan Stalter carried a black bag emblazoned with "CEASE FIRE!" Stalter told Variety: "What's the point of being at these big events if you're not going to use your privilege?"
With high-profile artists now linking Hollywood's biggest stage to calls for justice in Palestine, the Emmys may mark a turning point in how cultural platforms intersect with political activism.
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