Actor Javier Bardem sparked controversy at the Academy Awards after appearing on stage wearing two pins and declaring, “No to war and Free Palestine.”

Following the moment, actress Hannah Einbinder said she felt “absolute pride” watching Bardem speak out during the ceremony.

“He is so outspoken and always has been and I really appreciate his voice in a room like that when literally no one else said anything,” Einbinder said afterward.

The remarks quickly drew reaction online, with critics pointing out that Bardem’s statement did not reference the Hamas attacks on October 7 that triggered the current war between Israel and Hamas, or the atrocities carried out during that assault.

Others questioned the selective nature of the message, noting that the speech also made no mention of the tens of thousands of Iranians reportedly killed by the regime during recent crackdowns, Israeli civilians killed by Iranian ballistic missile attacks in recent weeks, Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine, famine across parts of Africa, or the ongoing genocide in Sudan.

The moment reflects the growing debate over political activism by celebrities on major entertainment stages such as the Oscars, where brief slogans often draw both applause and criticism online.