Attendees of the Academy Awards on Sunday night are planning to make a bold statement by wearing red pins calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. This move comes as a notable exception during an awards season where many Hollywood stars have been hesitant to draw attention to the conflict.
The pins represent the alignment of these attendees with Artists4Ceasefire, a group of celebrities and members of the entertainment industry who signed an open letter urging President Biden to call for a cease-fire. Among the nearly 400 signatories are Oscar nominees Bradley Cooper and America Ferrera, as well as Cate Blanchett, Drake, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Lopez.
According to Artists4Ceasefire, the pins symbolize collective support for an immediate and permanent cease-fire, the release of all hostages, and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The group emphasizes that compassion must prevail in this situation.
The Israel-Hamas war has not been a prominent presence on red carpets this awards season, but the Artists4Ceasefire pins have made intermittent appearances. Members of the indie rock trio boygenius wore the pins at the Grammy Awards, while actors Tony Shalhoub and Ebon Moss-Bachrach sported them at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Actor Mark Ruffalo, nominated for an Oscar this year, has also shown his support for the cause by wearing one of the red pins to the Directors Guild of America Awards in February. He emphasized the importance of giving a cease-fire a chance in an interview on the red carpet.
With more than 30,000 people killed in Gaza and about 1,200 in Israel in the conflict, the issue is a pressing one for many in the entertainment industry. While award show red carpets have been used in the past to draw attention to various causes, the Israel-Hamas war has been a relatively quiet topic until now.
As the Oscars approach, the Los Angeles Police Department is preparing for possible protests related to the conflict and will be increasing security around the Dolby Theater where the award show is held. It remains to be seen how the presence of the Artists4Ceasefire pins will impact the conversation at one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.
