Spanish actor and Academy Award winner Javier Bardem turned heads at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night, using his platform to deliver a powerful denunciation of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Bardem, dressed in a classic black tuxedo and wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh draped over his shoulders, received loud applause as he called attention to the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) declaration that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. His gesture and words struck a powerful chord in a ceremony broadcast live worldwide.

“Let’s be clear,” Bardem said on stage. “This is not a conflict. This is genocide — and the International Association of Genocide Scholars has confirmed it. We cannot stay silent.”

In a statement following the awards, Bardem announced that he would not work with any movie studio or production company that “justifies or supports the genocide happening in Gaza.”

“It’s as simple as that,” Bardem said. “We should not normalize genocide, not in this industry, not in any industry. If you are funding, defending, or remaining silent while people are massacred, you are part of the problem.”

Bardem’s speech came at a time when global outrage over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues to grow, with thousands of civilians killed and millions displaced since the war began. His bold stance was one of the night’s most talked-about moments, drawing widespread praise from activists, fellow actors, and social media users who hailed his courage in using Hollywood’s biggest stage to speak for Palestine.

The actor has long been outspoken on issues of human rights and previously signed several international petitions condemning Israeli war crimes. His Emmy Awards protest is expected to intensify pressure on Hollywood studios to take a stand on the Gaza genocide, with calls for an industry-wide boycott of Israeli-backed projects gaining momentum.

Many Palestinian rights groups welcomed Bardem’s remarks, praising him for “breaking the silence” in an industry that has largely avoided the topic for fear of backlash. “When a celebrity like Javier Bardem takes a stand, it gives courage to millions,” one activist said.

The moment is already being described as one of the most politically charged in Emmy Awards history, signaling that the Palestinian cause is becoming increasingly central to global conversations about justice and accountability. (ILKHA)