Hannah Einbinder's Emmy Win Sparks Irony: 'Free Palestine' Amidst Hamas Censorship
SCANDAL ROCKS THE EMMY AWARDS: HANNAH EINBINDER'S BOLD STANCE FOR PALESTINE LEAVES HOLLYWOOD IN AN UPROAR
Last night's Emmy Awards ceremony was filled with excitement, glamour, and controversy as actress Hannah Einbinder made a bold statement in support of Palestine during her acceptance speech. The Hacks star won her first-ever Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, but it was her unapologetic words that left the audience buzzing.
As she wrapped up her speech, wearing a stunning strapless silver and black gown that showed off her toned shoulders (which, ironically, were blurred out by Quds News Network, a Hamas publication), Einbinder concluded with a voice of support for her favorite football team - followed by two provocative statements: 'Go Birds, f**k ICE, and free Palestine.' The room was electric as the audience gasped at her boldness.
But it was her words about Palestine that caught everyone's attention. In an era where politics is increasingly intertwined with entertainment, Einbinder's stance on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza sparked a heated debate among viewers. The comments made by Einbinder come off the back of an open letter signed by thousands of people in the entertainment industry about the conflict.
HOLLYWOOD'S PRO-PALESTINE MOVEMENT TAKES CENTER STAGE
Einbinder's decision to say "free Palestine" during her Emmys acceptance speech was a deliberate choice, according to Quds News Network. The outlet explained that Einbinder believed as a Jewish person she has a responsibility to distinguish Judaism and Jewish culture from the ethnonationalist project of the Israeli state.
In response to criticism, Einbinder doubled down on her statement, telling The Wrap: "I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel, because our religion and our culture is such an important and long-standing... institution that is really separate to this sort of ethno-nationalist state."
This isn't the first time Einbinder has taken a public stance on the issue. Along with over 3,900 others in the entertainment industry, she signed an open letter stating that they won't work with Israeli institutions and film companies "implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people." The move sparked a backlash from some quarters, including Paramount, the parent company of CBS.
In a statement, Paramount said: "Silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace."
JAVIER BARDEN'S PRO-PALESTINE PLEDGE: A NEW FRONT IN THE HOLLYWOOD CONFLICT
But Einbinder wasn't alone in her support for Palestine. Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem, who wore a black and white keffiyeh around his neck on the red carpet, also weighed in on the issue.
Bardem, known for his roles in No Country for Old Men and Skyfall, told Variety: "Here I am today denouncing the genocide in Gaza. I'm talking about the IAGS, which is the International Association of Genocide Scholars, who [have thoroughly studied] genocide and declared a genocide."
The actor explained that he was part of a new movement in Hollywood - Film Workers for Palestine - aimed at supporting the pro-Palestine cause.
"We are getting together Film Workers for Palestine," Bardem said. "It's a great union [and] group that is getting more and more people attached. It's also important to clarify to Paramount that we do not target individuals by their identity - that's absolutely wrong."
A SILENT TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK?
But despite the controversy surrounding Einbinder's comments, there was another issue that went largely unaddressed at the Emmys: the recent murder of Charlie Kirk. Just four days before the ceremony, Kirk, a 31-year-old ally of Donald Trump, was shot in the neck after beginning a Q&A session as part of his "American Comeback Tour" in front of a 3,000-person crowd at Utah Valley University.
The sudden death sent shockwaves through the country and sparked a heated debate on social media. But when it came to acknowledging Kirk's passing at the Emmys, the stars remained silent.
"Viewers quickly picked up on that, with some taking to social media express their anger about Kirk's 'heinous assassination,'" one user wrote. "So they decided to be non-political this year is why NO Moment of Silence for Charlie Kirk at the #Emmys. What a joke Hollywood has become."
Another user added: "I'm sure ratings will be at lowest levels again find out tomorrow."
The contrast between the pro-Palestine movement and the silence on Kirk's murder highlights the complexities of politics in the entertainment industry. While some stars like Einbinder and Bardem are willing to take a stand, others seem reluctant to get involved.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the Emmy Awards ceremony was just the beginning of a much larger conversation about politics, identity, and free speech in Hollywood.