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‘Free Palestine!’ says A-List actor at Academy Awards

Javier Bardem has repeatedly referred to Israel’s war against Hamas as a “genocide.”

By World Israel News Staff

Spanish actor Javier Bardem shouted “Free Palestine” while presenting the award for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards on Sunday.

Bardem, who was reading the nominees alongside Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, blurted “No to wars and free Palestine” before opening the envelope revealing the winner.

Bardem’s remarks were met with raucous cheers and applause from the audience at the glitzy ceremony.

The actor also used the red carpet and awards ceremony to display political messages. He wore a patch on his suit reading “No to war” in Spanish in a red font reminiscent of dripping blood.

Bardem also sported a patch featuring Handala, a political cartoon character that serves as a widely recognized pro-Palestinian symbol.

The Spaniard has a long history of making public statements highly critical of Israel and supportive of the Palestinians.

Bardem has been outspoken in his criticism of Israel’s war against Hamas. During an appearance in June 2025 on the daytime television program “The View,” he described the conflict as a “genocide” in which “children are being murdered.”

Earlier, at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2024, Bardem claimed that Israel is “committing crimes against humanity and international law.”

At the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2025, Bardem wore a keffiyeh and told reporters on the red carpet that he “cannot work with someone who justifies or supports the genocide,” referring to those who support Israel.

Bardem has also claimed that he has faced professional consequences for his political views. The actor has suggested he was effectively blacklisted in Hollywood because of his outspoken support for Palestinians.

However, Bardem’s prominent appearance at the Oscars — arguably the most high-profile event in the entertainment industry — would appear to undermine his assertion that he has been shut out of Hollywood.