Actor Javier Bardem cried out Free Palestine on stage at the Oscars, joining a list of Hollywood stars who couldn’t resist making the award ceremony political.
The 57-year-old was just about to present the award for Best International Feature when he said: ‘No to war and Free Palestine’.
The Spaniard wore a pin which said ‘no a la guerra’ which is Spanish for ‘no to war’ as well as a free Palestine pin on his suit.
He told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet: ‘We are here 23 years after with another illegal war, created by Trump and Netanyahu with another lie to defeat the regime.
‘They’re radicalizing the regime by their horrific actions, that is not the reason. And also the Palestine symbolism of resistance.’
Bardem wasn’t the only one either, with a series of celebrities also joining in making political statements as the 98th Academy Awards kicked off.
As stars started making their way down the red carpet, activist Glennon Doyle showed off a black clutch emblazoned with the words ‘f*** ICE’ on it.
Her wife Abby Wambach, a former soccer player, stood beside her wearing a pin that said ICE OUT, which Doyle also had pinned on her dress.
The 57-year-old was just about to present the award for Best International Feature when he said: ‘No to war and Free Palestine’
Glennon Doyle, right, is seen here with her wife Abby Wambach on the Oscars red carpet. She showed off a black clutch bag emblazoned with the politically-charged phrase f*** ICE
British actress Charithra Chandran also wore a red pin calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war
Glennon Doyle’s clutch is seen here with the political message emblazoned over the top of it
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles was also spotted wearing the same brooch, along with costume designer Malgosia Turzanska.
Others also wore a pin from the political collective Artists4Ceasefire, which is calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war.
British actress Charithra Chandran spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about her decision to wear the pin.
‘What we are demanding is a ceasefire in Gaza, I think that I am so blessed to have a platform and this is the least I could do to use it,’ she said.
‘Sometimes the news cycle is so fast and people move on but the people in Gaza and the West Bank are still suffering.’
Chandran was seen wearing the pin when being interviewed, but it was not on her dress when she posed for portraits.
Javier Bardem wore a pin he had wore in 2003, during the Iraq war, which said ‘no a la guerra’ which is Spanish for ‘no to war’ as well as a free Palestine pin.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘We are here 23 years after with another illegal war, created by Trump and Netanyahu with another lie to defeat the regime.
‘They’re radicalizing the regime by their horrific actions, that is not the reason. And also the Palestine symbolism of resistance.’
Actress Saja Kilani, who stars in The Voice of Hind Rajab about the killing of a six-year-old Palestinian girl, was also spotted wearing the red pin alongside her co-star Amer Hlehel.
She told Deadline: ‘There is no ceasefire right now, there are bombings happening to this day. Destruction, displacement, all over the world.
‘Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and Venezuela, everywhere. This is a demand for a permanent ceasefire.’
Her fellow cast member, Israeli actress Clara Khoury, added: ‘It’s happening in the US, ICE. What’s happening in America, what’s happening with ICE, it’s all connected.
‘We are all the same, we are all human and hatred is a cancer.
‘People should open their hearts, our governments should acknowledge the other and be accountable to their atrocities everywhere.’
Should Hollywood stars use the Oscars stage to highlight global conflicts and political causes?
Saja Kilani is seen here wearing the Artists4Ceasefire on her black gown
Kilani is seen here alongside Clara Khoury, the pair called out the war in Gaza, the ongoing situation in Iran and ICE during an interview on Sunday night. Amer Hlehel is seen between the two also wearing a pin
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles is seen here on the left wearing a ICE out pin on the red carpet
Strict security measures have been put in place for the ceremony amid concerns over a potential Iranian retaliatory strike against the US.
Host Conan O’Brien mentioned heightened security in his opening monologue while also sarcastically commenting that all was well in the world despite conflicts around the globe.
Similar pins were seen earlier this year at the Golden Globes, with Mark Ruffalo and other A-listers honoring the memory of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Sinners is tipped to sweep the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations, closely followed by One Battle After Another, which sees Leonardo DiCaprio up for Best Actor.
Stars including Nicole Kidman, Pedro Pascal, Rose Byrne, Delroy Lindo and Jimmy Kimmel will present some of the awards.
Strict security measures have been put in place for the ceremony amid concerns over a potential Iranian retaliatory strike against the US.
While officials stressed they have no direct intelligence of a specific threat, precautions are being taken.
The LAPD confirmed that around 1,000 private security officers will be on duty for the show.