Bardem denounces Gaza at Emmys, vows not to work with Israeli firms

Wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Javier Bardem used the red carpet to publicly denounce the violence in Gaza and say he will not work with companies he believes are complicit in it. The Oscar winner, who was nominated for outstanding supporting actor for his role in Netflix's Monsters The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, said he had signed a pledge organized by Film Workers for Palestine that urges a commercial and diplomatic blockade and sanctions on Israel.

"Here I am today denouncing the genocide in Gaza," Bardem told Variety's Marc Malkin on the red carpet. He cited a declaration from the International Association of Genocide Scholars, saying the group has characterized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as genocide. "Thats why we ask for a commercial and diplomatic blockade and also sanctions on Israel to stop the genocide. Free Palestine," he said. When asked whether he would work with companies tied to Israel, he replied, "I wont work. I cannot with somebody that justifies or supports the genocide."

Organizers of the pledge say it identifies film companies and institutions that are, in their view, complicit through whitewashing,...