Javier Bardem walked the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards wearing a keffiyeh scarf and voicing his support for Film Workers for Palestine. Speaking to Variety’s Marc Malkin, Bardem said he “cannot work with someone who justifies or supports the genocide.”
“Here I am today, denouncing the genocide in Gaza,” he told Malkin on the red carpet. “I am talking about the IAGS, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, who study thoroughly genocide and has declared it is a genocide. That’s why we ask for a commercial and diplomatic blockade and also sanctions on Israel to stop the genocide. Free Palestine.”
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In the week leading up to the Emmys, 3,900 industry names signed an open pledge that was organized by Film Workers for Palestine and declared the signees will not work with Israeli institutions and film companies that are “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.” The pledge states that examples of complicity include “whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them.”
Paramount responded to the letter on Friday by issuing a statement condemning a boycott against the Israeli film and television industry: “At Paramount, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire people, promote mutual understanding, and preserve the moments, ideas, and events that shape the world we share. This is our creative mission. We do not agree with recent efforts to boycott Israeli filmmakers. Silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace,” the statement continued. “The global entertainment industry should be encouraging artists to tell their stories and share their ideas with audiences throughout the world. We need more engagement and communication — not less.”
Bardem responded to the letter by saying, “There’s also an association called Film Workers for Palestine that I want to clarify something based on Paramount’s letter. Film Workers for Palestine do not target any individuals based on identity. The targets are those film companies and institutions that are complicit and are white-washing or justifying the genocide and its apartheid regime. We do stand with those who are helping and being supportive of the oppressed people.”
He added, “I cannot work with someone that justifies or supports the genocide. That’s as simple as that. We shouldn’t be able to do that, in this industry or any other industry.”
Bardem signed the letter alongside Hollywood filmmakers like Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay, Asif Kapadia, Emma Seligman, Boots Riley, Adam McKay, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton, Lily Gladstone, Hannah Einbinder, Gael Garcia Bernal, Melissa Barrera and Emma Stone, among others.
Bardem attended the 2025 Emmys as a nominee for his performance as José Menendez in the Netflix crime series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” The Oscar winner was nominated in the outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie.
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