Many performers used the Academy Awards red carpet and stage on Sunday to not only protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies but also to advocate for Palestinian liberation, adding to the surge of artist-driven activism at the entertainment awards show.The appearance of “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” pins at the Academy Awards drew less attention than at last month’s Grammys, but some attendees wearing protest apparel used the Oscars to highlight other political causes.
anti-Iran war and free palestine badge
“No to war and no to liberating Palestine,” actor Javier Bardem said on stage before presenting Best International Feature Film.They wore a patch that read, “No a la Guerra”, the same anti-war slogan they used more than two decades earlier to protest the Iraq War, and a badge featuring a cartoon figure called Handala, which is seen as a symbol of Palestinian identity.Australian actor Guy Pearce wore a “Free Palestine” pin. In December, the Oscar winner apologized for a series of anti-Semitic social media posts, which he said he had inadvertently reposted as part of his support for the Palestinian cause.British actress Charitra Chandran was among those wearing red enamel Artists4Ceasefire badges during the ceremony, which called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid for civilians and the release of all hostages, Forbes reported. “What we’re asking for is a ceasefire in Gaza, I feel like I’m very fortunate to have a platform and it’s the least I can do to use it,” Chandran told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet. He stressed the importance of continued public attention to civilian suffering.Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire took effect in October, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Israel has said it is responding to the ceasefire violations.
anti-ice badge
Malgosia Turzanska, the Polish-American costume designer nominated for Hamnet, carried an ‘ICE OUT’ pin on her dress, as did singer Sara Bareilles, while Glennon Doyle took a more visible approach, shamelessly carrying a ‘F**K ICE’ purse.Trump’s travel ban on Palestinian forces leads actor nominated to stay out of OscarsMotaaz Malhis, lead actor hind ki awaaz rajabwhich was nominated for Best International Feature, was unable to attend the ceremony after being barred from entering the United States under a travel ban initiated by Donald Trump’s administration. Just days before the ceremony, Malhis revealed the news in an emotional Instagram post. He wrote, “Three days left until the Oscars. Our film has been nominated for an Academy Award. I’m honored to play the lead role in a story the world wanted to hear.” “But I will not live there. I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship.” The mother of the film’s subject, Wissam Hamada, was also unable to attend. According to reports, he watched the ceremony from Greece, where his family was granted asylum, with the help of executive producer Amed Khan.
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Another unforgettable moment came on stage when all the empty rooms Won the award for Best Documentary Short. Director Joshua Seftel invited Gloria Cazares to the stage — the mother of nine-year-old Jackie Cazares, who was killed in the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. “My daughter Jackie was nine years old when she was murdered in Uvalde. Since that day, her bedroom has been frozen in time,” Cazares told the audience. “Jackie is more than just a headline. She is our light and our life.” The emotional tribute brought the Dolby Theater to a silence and then a standing ovation — a reminder that even Hollywood’s biggest night can’t escape the weight of real-world tragedies.
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The Best Documentary category brought more social commentary. David Borenstein, one of the directors of “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” said the documentary is about “how you lose your country.”This happens through “countless small acts of consent”, Borenstein said, such as “when a government murders people on the streets of our major cities” or when “oligarchs take over the media”.He said, “We all face a moral choice, but fortunately, none is more powerful than you think.”