Topics: Celebrity, Oscars, US News, World News, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Palestine, TV And Film, Entertainment
Several celebrities made political statements during the 98th Academy Awards, which took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night (15 March).
Several guests wore a red Artists4Ceasefire pin linked to The Voice of Hind Rajab, a nominated docu-drama about the attempt to rescue a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza. The badge signalled support for a ceasefire and humanitarian protection.
Other attendees arrived with 'ICE OUT' pins aimed at the agency’s detention and deportation practices, with arguably the sharpest message coming from comedian Glennon Doyle, who carried a black beaded clutch reading 'F*CK ICE' while walking the carpet.
No Country for Old Men star Javier Bardem also wore a political pin, which read 'No a la GUERRA', which translates to 'No to WAR' from Spanish, the same anti-war slogan he sported to protest the Iraq war more than two decades ago.
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He also spoke out about the current geopolitical climate while presenting the award for Best International Feature film, where he declared: "No to war and free Palestine."
The award, also presented by Priyanka Chopra, ended up going to Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier.
Other nominees included: It Was Just an Accident, Sirât, The Secret Agent and The Voice of Hind Rajab.
Bardem later spoke to The Independent backstage, where he suggested that some people in the Hollywood industry were too 'comfortable' to speak out.
"I think it's comfortable-ness," he said. "I think they don't want to feel, themselves, uncomfortable. And that makes me uncomfortable; me and many others."
He continued: "When I said 'free Palestine' in the room, in that theatre, the room broke [out] in a round of applause. So there is support, there is a lot of people supporting it, but it's not loud enough.
"That's what I try to inspire. Like, 'Guys, it's OK. You can be part of the community of filmmaking, and also be a citizen, and it's OK.' One thing should be OK with the other'."
Earlier in the evening, host Conan O'Brien made a joke to anyone getting offended over the ceremony getting 'political'.
"I warn you, tonight could get political," the comedian said before making a reference to Turning Point USA's Super Bowl performance, which was pegged as an alternative to Puerto Rican hitmaker Bad Bunny’s official Super Bowl performance last month (8 February).
"If that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternative Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock at a Dave & Buster’s down the street."
