Activism and Accessories: What are you wearing?
Now the red carpet has been rolled back and the time-honoured dissection of dresses and drama has passed; The Academy Awards are once again at the centre of a political and personal debate. In 2022, the controversy centred around the violence perpetrated on stage as Will Smith assaulted comedian Chris Rock in front of a global audience. This year, Oscar ceremony attendees used the awards as a platform to unite and call for immediate action to halt the conflict and ongoing atrocities unfolding in the Israel-Hamas war.
As a sign of solidarity and support, an accessory prominent on Sunday's red carpet was a red pin featuring a hand with a black heart in the middle. Celebrities like Billie Eilish, Ramy Youssef and Mark Ruffalo wore the pins in support of Artists4Ceasefire, a group of advocates and artists that opposes the conflict in Gaza.
Inside the ceremony, several of the night’s nominees, including Selma director Ava DuVernay and Poor Things actor Mark Ruffalo, as well as Best Original Song winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, were seen sporting pins in support of Artists4Ceasefire, an organisation calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel and humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians.
The red pins feature an image of an outstretched hand.
Speaking to Variety on the red carpet, Poor Things star Ramy Youssef said: “We’re calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine.”
Anatomy of a Fall actors Milo Machado Grenier and Swann Arlaud were also seen wearing pins bearing the Palestine flag.
On Sunset Boulevard, riot police were present as demonstrators gathered to protest, reportedly yelling “Free Palestine” and “Let’s shut it down” on the outskirts of the venue. The beginning of the ceremony was delayed by around five minutes due to the protest.
An open letter signed by over 400 artists through the Artists4Ceacefire organisation was sent to US President Joe Biden last year. Among those lending their name to the letter were Jessica Chastain, Quinta Brunson, Richard Gere, Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong’o, Mahershala Ali and Barbie nominee America Ferrera.
The letter, available to read on Artists4Ceacefire’s website, reads: “We come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine. More than 30,000 people have been killed over the last 5 months, and over 69,000 injured – numbers that any person of conscience knows are catastrophic.”
Written by Daisy Sells.
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP