In the particular Russian doll that is the United States, Hollywood is a peculiar ecosystem. If the country seems to have stained conservatism, California is its most democratic bastion and Los Angeles flies free like the wind, Hollywood often nothing between two waters. Sometimes it is a toe when telling stories, such as the great theater of the world that it is. But others have a hard time advancing, weighed by different powers – often economic – that anchor it. That is why it is so interesting to see what its reaction has been to the recent samples of rejection of Israel’s genocide over Gaza: none. And that’s a surprise.
10 days ago, 4,500 actors signed a hard proclamation to ask for peace in Palestine, speaking in such hard terms as “silence, racism and dehumanization.” It is true that they were an immense group, too big for reproaches or reprisals. But there are two specific cases. Last weekend, Javier Bardem raised his fist and placed a Kufiya, a Palestinian handkerchief, nothing less than in the Red Emmy awards, probably in the top three of the most important galas of the Hollywoodiese system. He did not hesitate to tell everyone who was crossed that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide, with all his lyrics. And sitting in the first row of the Peacock theater, as nominated, showing the handkerchief. Bardem, even if it is a foreigner without an indigenous accent, is not less in the industry: he has been four times nominated for an Oscar (he has won one) and participated in worship films, as well as blockbusters. But if someone did not seem enough, Hannah Einbinder arrived. Fashion woman on television thanks to Hackswinner of an award and, above all, Jewish, he took the stage and shouted: “Free Palestine.” And what happened? Surprisingly, nothing.
The reasons for that nothing are many, but not less striking. Hollywood is a clearly Proisraelí industry, with hundreds of executives, screenwriters, directors and interpreters of the highest level professing Jewish faith, and doing business in all areas. But it is also an industry connected to the world, which knows what happens around it. Two years ago, the gestures and words of that night would probably have cost Bardem and Einbinder, at least, a reprimand from their agents, if not directly a role or even part of (or all) their career. But things have changed.
The UN statement and an independent agencies that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza is something that does not even Hollywood can ignore. Two years ago, after the Hamas massacre of October 7 and the violent reaction of its neighbors, anyone who attacked Israel obtained warning looks, uncomfortable silences or even a fulminating dismissal. Not anymore.
But then it happened to Maha Dakhil, a name probably little known outside the industry but very influential in it. Dakhil is a representative of CCA actors, one of the leading agencies in the United States, with a client portfolio in which they were Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway or Reese Witherspoon. But a couple of weeks after the attacks, he hung a comment on his networks about the conflict. Hours later, she was forced to depart from her position at the Agency Board and as co -responsible for the film department. Simply, he repossed a couple of photos in the stories of his Instagram profile and hung a message in one of them: “What is more discouraging than to witness a genocide? Be witnessing the denial that a genocide is taking place.” He erased and apologized, apologizing for “the damage caused” and thanking his “Jewish colleagues and friends” for pointing out “the implications” of the message and to instruct her. But then it was not enough.
On the other hand, a few months ago, in March, Israeli actress Gal Gadot received her star on the Paseo de la Fame, and previously gave an interview in Variety in which he spoke of his positioning in favor of the state of Israel. “I am completely in favor of humanity and I felt that I had to advocate for hostages,” he said, explaining that it was “a challenge to speak on social networks, because there is a lot of hate, many bots And many angry people. ”In the inauguration ceremony of the star there were Proisraelíes groups, but also, in a rare gesture, some proportions, which shouted:” above the release, below the occupation. “
Hollywood has celebrated Israel on many occasions. When the State was created in 1948, in the middle of the golden age for the Northern neighborhood of Los Angeles, an immense party was held in its centenary outdoor theater, the Hollywood Bowl, with capacity for 17,000 spectators. It happened the same after the six -day war, in June 1967, when a rally was organized from Barbra Streisand to Ronald Reagan, who spoke to the masses. When the October 2023 attacks took place, it was usual to find the great green esplanade of the center of Beverly Hills, a neighbor and friend of Hollywood and home of many of its workers, covered with hundreds of Israel flags, and many cars waves it with pride with the American. 24 months later, the story is another.
Just a couple of years ago, newspapers such as the local and main Los Angeles Times He explained in long articles how the war divided the city and condemned that the celebrities published their impressions in their networks. This weekend, in its fortnight of articles about the Emmy, there was neither a reference to Bardem, Einbinder nor anything of the issue. Some media placed the moment, especially that of Einbinder, among the most striking of the night. But little else.
Only the newspaper The Hollywood Reporterdean of the place of the place, it was hard, but through a guest columnist, as clearly specified in its headline. In his writing “No, Hannah, That Wasn’t Brave” (“No, Hannah, that has not been brave”), the writer and lecturer Hen Mazzig, a Jew born in Israel and co -founder of the Tel Aviv Institute, shaved Einbinder his gesture, stating that he was “populist and dangerous”, and ensuring that for the Jews he came with a cost, his security, while talking about some attacks suffered by the collective in the country. “When celebrities become vilified to Israel, a climate is feeds that leads to Jewish schools under police surveillance, synagogues fire and children are hit when they go to school,” he said. “That is why Einbinder’s words hurt so much. It is not just a comic with a platform, it is a Jewish comic. When he points to Israel, the only Jewish state in the world, home in the middle of the world Jewish community, is telling millions of us that the most unifying part of our identity is illegitimate.”
Beyond the column of the entertainment medium, which passed without too much noise, there have hardly been references. The firms of the hundreds of artists seem to weigh more in a letter created by the Artists4ceasefire platform (artists for a high fire), and of the almost 5,000 who have signed the film World for Palestine. Between them are names that range from Richard Gere to Emma Stone, passing through Ken Loach, Gael García Bernal, Jessica Chastain, Alfonso Cuarón, Selena Gomez, Ben Affleck, Jenna Ortega, Mark Ruffalo, Ariana Grande, Juliette Binoche, Eric Cantona or Pedro Pascal. Some of those who went to the Emmy gala, such as Einbinder or Aimee Lou Wood, actress of The White Lotusthey wore the red pin of artists4ceasefire that night, in protest. Einbinder’s partner in Hacksactress Megan Stalter, wearing a bag with a handwritten poster where she read “Cease Fire!”“Alto El Fuego”.
Hollywood doesn’t seem to worry. There are no agents trembling for the attitudes of their actors in this regard, or canceled projects. In a country where freedom of expression, despite its protection for the first amendment, is increasingly measured, that a few artists decide to raise their voices for a genocide that leaves 65,000 dead does not imply such an disgust today. With the murder of Charlie Kirk and with the cancellation of critical programs with power, such as those of Stephen Colbert and now that of Jimmy Kimmel, the United States already has enough problems to face.