Artists Speak Out at the Oscars
On a night celebrating cinematic achievements, the Academy Awards saw several artists voice their discontent with more than just immigration policies under the Trump administration.
While the presence of pins like “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” made a statement at the Oscars, it wasn’t as pronounced as the activism displayed at the recent Grammy Awards. During the red carpet event, attendees made their viewpoint clear, advocating for Palestinian liberation and a call for a ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. This marked a noticeable trend of artist-led activism gaining momentum at entertainment award shows.
“No to war and liberate Palestine,” actor Javier Bardem declared from the stage while announcing the Best International Feature Film award. He wore a patch stating “No a la Guerra,” a sentiment he echoed over two decades ago during protests against the Iraq War.
As Hollywood’s awards season wraps up with the Oscars, political organizers are suggesting that celebrities have been more vocal this year than in the past. Jess Morales Lockett, the executive director of Maremoto—an advocacy group that introduced the immigration pin at the Golden Globes—referred to this as a “return to form” for artistic political engagement.
Lockett praised Mark Ruffalo for his candid remarks on the Golden Globes red carpet this January. The outspoken actor shared with Entertainment Tonight that while he appreciates everything happening around him, it’s hard to ignore “this crazy thing” occurring in the world.
“We recognized early on that this was a moment to take a stand and shape our historical narrative,” Lockett noted before the Oscars on Sunday.
During the ceremony, attendees from the “Voice of Hind Rajab” wore new red “Artists4Ceasefire” buttons. This initiative was tied to a docudrama nominated for Best International Feature Film, which centers on rescue efforts involving a murdered Palestinian girl in Gaza.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, hundreds of Palestinians have died in Israeli airstrikes since a U.S.-facilitated ceasefire began in October.
“Our struggles are intertwined, as is our liberation. I feel honored to be here tonight,” said Saja Kilani, one of the film’s stars, while speaking to The Associated Press on the red carpet.
This year, the Oscars carried a decidedly political tone, even without direct mention of wars in Iran or other global issues. Paul Thomas Anderson, director of “One Battle After Another,” mentioned that he crafted the political drama as an apology to children for “the domestic mess we leave in this world.”
Host Conan O’Brien made a reference to Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl Halftime Show parody, poking fun at the U.S. health care system and Kid Rock.
He pointed out that the Oscars felt particularly significant “at moments like this.”
“Tonight we honor not only cinema but also the principles of global artistry, collaboration, and that increasingly rare virtue: optimism,” he expressed.
In the documentary category, many nominees leaned into explicit political themes and social commentary. David Borenstein, co-director of “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” described the documentary as a portrayal of “how you lose your country” through various forms of collusion, including government violence and media manipulation.
“We all confront moral choices, but the encouraging news is that even small individuals can wield greater power than one might assume,” he remarked.
Additionally, different advocacy groups seized the Oscars’ visibility to champion their causes. The Free Press deployed mobile billboards around the Dolby Theater, protesting against Paramount Skydance’s rumored acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Morales Lockett pointed out that no single pin can bring about the profound changes she desires in U.S. immigration policy. Yet, she likened individual efforts to “drops of water” contributing to “a vast ocean that we aim to shift.”
“This movement only gains traction if celebrities choose to use their platforms for more than just discussing their attire,” she emphasized. “I don’t take that lightly; it’s a significant shift for people to step forward and say that.”
