The pro-Gaza statements were evident before the show even began, with nearly a thousand protesters calling for a ceasefire in front of the Dolby Theater, blocking the entry of many celebrities into the venue which resulted in an almost six minute delay in the broadcast.
On the red carpet, over a dozen celebrities wore red pins representing Artists4Ceasefire, a collective group of actors, musicians, and other entertainment industry figures calling for an immediate de-escalation and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as ensuring the safe return of all hostages.
Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo, Mahershala Ali, FINNEAS, Ramy Youssef, Riz Ahmed, Ava DuVerany were among the celebrities who represented the cause during the ceremony. Nearly 400 artists are signatories of the Artists4Ceasefire.
“We have so many artists here tonight wearing it. We’re all calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for the safety of everyone involved, and we really want lasting justice and peace for the Palestinian people,” said Ramy Youssef, star of the film Poor Things which picked up four awards at the ceremony, during a red carpet interview.
“Even if a lot of that feels like a lot for people, we really want to say like ‘let’s just stop killing children.’”
The war was also highlighted during the ceremony by Jonathan Glazer, an English director of Jewish descent, while delivering his acceptance speech for the Best International Feature Film award for the Zone of Interest.
“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people, whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel, or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims, this dehumanization, how do we resist?”
Set in 1943, Glazer’s Zone of Interest follows a German concentration camp commandant and his wife seeking to build a happy life for their family in a house situated right next door to Auschwitz. The film picked up two awards at the ceremony.
Over 31,000 people, including more than 12,000 children, have been killed in Gaza since October 17 as a result of Israel’s brutal campaign in the Strip in response to Hamas’ infiltration into Israeli territory on October 7. The Palestinian group killed some 1,200 people and took around 200 others hostage in the attack.
