Hannah Einbinder, Javier Bardem wins praise for calling out Gaza genocide at Emmy Awards

Javier and Hannah, along with 3,900 other industry professionals, signed an open pledge organised by Film Workers for Palestine.

Web Desk

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15 Sep 2025

This year’s Emmy Awards weren’t just about trophies and red-carpet glamour, they became a stage for outspoken solidarity with Palestine. Many artists wore ceasefire pins and used the spotlight to call out the genocide in Gaza.

Two voices stood out the most, including American actress Hannah Einbinder and Spanish actor Javier Bardem, both praised for using their moment to speak truth to power.

Einbinder, best known for her role in the comedy-drama Hacks, turned her win for Best Supporting Actress into a sharp political statement. Wrapping up her speech, she declared: “Go Birds, f** ICE, and free Palestine,” while wearing a red Artists4Ceasefire pin.

Later, in a backstage interview, she spoke about why the issue mattered so deeply to her. She mentioned friends working as doctors and teachers in Gaza and stressed the need to separate faith from politics. “It is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the state of Israel. Our religion and culture are long-standing and deeply important, but they are not tied to this ethnonationalist state.”

Spanish star Javier Bardem, nominated this year for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, also made his stance crystal clear. Wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, he told reporters he would not work with any company connected to Israel.

“Here I am today, denouncing the genocide in Gaza,” Bardem said on the red carpet. “The International Association of Genocide Scholars has recognised what is happening as genocide. That is why we demand sanctions, a commercial and diplomatic blockade, and every step needed to stop it. Free Palestine.”

Javier and Hannah, along with 3,900 other industry professionals, signed an open pledge organised by Film Workers for Palestine.

The pledge stated that they will not collaborate with Israeli institutions and film companies "implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."

According to the document, complicity includes "whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them."

Hannah Einbinder ending her all-timer Emmys speech with "I just wanna say...go Birds, and free Palestine!"

Icon! pic.twitter.com/vMDWGWrtQf
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) September 15, 2025

Javier Bardem and Hannah Einbinder both explicitly, on camera, saying Free Palestine tonight is great to hear and I hope this continues tonight and beyond in Hollywood https://t.co/faaXFzfb19
— jay (@kendallhosseini) September 15, 2025

javier bardem at the 2025 emmy awards. pic.twitter.com/3tFSgPep3k
— archive dilfs (@archivedilfs) September 14, 2025

A key barrier that is overcome in revolutions is when the public stops fearing the dictator.

Similarly, the fear of retribution by elements supporting Israel's genocide has been overcome.

Here's Spanish actor Javier Bardem saying he "will not work" with any film or TV company… pic.twitter.com/atW5xX0Xp7
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) September 15, 2025

Don’t forget that Javier Bardem faced a massive amount of backlash and was labeled an antisemite after he spoke up about Israel’s campaign of mass murder in 2014. Good to see him rocking a kuffiyeh, doubling down against Israeli genocide, and calling for sanctions on Israel
— Remi Kanazi (@Remroum) September 15, 2025