If you spy a small red button on the lapel or dress straps of Hollywood's finest this weekend, know that it's not a stylish accessory or Oscars red carpet necessity, but instead the latest attention-garnering symbol of a humanitarian outcry.
The pins, which feature the image of a red, outstretched hand holding a black heart in its palm, are the official ready-to-wear symbol of the Artists for Ceasefire initiative, which began with an industry-wide letter signed by actors, musicians, and other creatives asking President Joe Biden to back a congressional call for immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.
Artists for Ceasefire is one of many campaigns, including those backed by political representatives, asking the U.S. government to take a stand against the deadly conflict. "Ceasefire now!" has become a rallying cry for outraged global citizens, and celebrities have adopted the phrase as both an indication of pro-Palestinian sentiment and as a general statement against violence.
Periods of ceasefire following widespread armed conflict are a throughline in the history of Israel and occupied Palestine, and represent a chance for humanitarian aid to more effectively enter the region. Following the events of Oct. 7 and a brief week-long ceasefire, global leaders have introduced several rejected proposals for a long-term cessation of conflict. Experts believe that U.S. leadership's call for a ceasefire may act as a catalyst for brokering a longer-term ceasefire, as the death toll climbs to upwards of 30,000. Thus, the global call for ceasefire is seen by many activists as a bare minimum humanitarian solution to curb ongoing violence and displacement taking over the region.
On March 3, Vice President Kamala Harris finally vocalized support for a six-week long ceasefire, calling the conflict a "humanitarian catastrophe" displaying an "immense scale of human suffering." While the Academy Awards ceremony wields significantly less geopolitical influence than the White House, the event has seen its fair share of Hollywood elites cementing their political stances and actions on stage, from anti-war statements in the 1970s and early 2000s to calls for action during the AIDS epidemic and the ongoing climate crisis.
This year's red carpet offers similarly salient ground for continued public and social attention.
Last year, celebrities took a similar, but differently aligned, stance at the 2023 Academy Awards ceremony in support of the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Main category nominees like Cate Blanchett and Dolly DeLeon pinned small, handmade blue ribbons to their outfits ahead of press photos, part of a United Nations–backed symbolic campaign.
This time around, the movement is for the civilians of Gaza, where deaths climb and the UN warns that widespread famine looms unless aid is brought in. The Artists for Ceasefire campaign, launched in October, is backed by global anti-poverty organization Oxfam America and international social justice network ActionAid USA.
Other consensus-gathering initiatives have appeared across industries, including a letter introduced by the Musicians for Ceasefire initiative, which has since gathered thousands of signatures. "We cannot be silent. We draw inspiration from Artists Against Apartheid that helped end apartheid in South Africa," the letter reads. "We refuse to let our music be used to whitewash oppression and human rights violations anywhere. We insist that all governments stop sending weapons and military funding to Israel and to any other state involved in crimes against humanity."
The recently announced Athletes for Ceasefire has gathered hundreds of signatures from current and retired professional athletes, as well, with the letter noting "the right of the Palestinian people to live in peace and security" and calling attention to the industry's history of activism: "In signing this letter, we continue a long legacy of athletes speaking up for the human rights of all people, such as Olympians John Carlos and Tommie Smith who raised their fists at the 1968 games in part to demand that apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia be held to account. We stand in the proud tradition of 'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali who stood for Palestinian freedom throughout his life both in word and deed."
Social media accounts like @Ceasefire_Tracker now document celebrities, politicians, governments, and organizations who have signed onto similar campaigns or made public statements calling for the cessation of attacks.
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This year's Grammys ceremony saw the first wave of public alignments with the Artists for Ceasefire collective, including the red lapel buttons sported by indie music phenoms Boygenius. That same night, singer Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire after an in-tribute rendition of the late Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U." "Artists for ceasefire!" Lennox called out. "Peace… in the world!"
Subsequent industry events saw several other celebrities donning ceasefire apparel, as well. To the praise of many online, actor Joe Alwyn (you may recognize him as the ex-boyfriend of Taylor Swift) signed the letter and sported a button at last month's Pre-BAFTA Filmmakers Dinner.
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Among several other examples, star of FX's The Bear Ebon Moss Bachrach wore a pin to the Screen Actors Guild awards in February, as did actor Tony Shalhoub and Succession's Arian Moayed. Comedian and actor Joel Kim Booster was singled out as one of a few attendees wearing a ceasefire pin to the Independent Spirit Awards.
Red carpets have also invited other forms of protest, including pro-Palestine gatherings outside of ceremonies and symbolic on-carpet statements.
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The famed red carpet of the 2024 Academy Awards may be the biggest opportunity yet for Hollywood's celebrities to signal their support for the humanitarian cause, with tens of millions of viewers tuning into the main ceremony. In addition to growing positive sentiment for expressing support among their fans, some celebs could be compelled to join via their connections to other organizations. Many are UN ambassadors, and, much like last year's action, some may be motivated to join UNICEF's calls for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian intervention.
Whether or not someone will make a statement on the main stage depends on their willingness to go down in ceremony infamy. During her acceptance speech at the 1978 Oscars ceremony, actress Vanessa Redgrave faced industry ire for calling out defamatory remarks and death threats made against her by extremist Zionists and the Jewish Defense League— Redgrave had recently produced and narrated the documentary The Palestinian. In a comment directed to colleagues (like co-star Jane Fonda) and Academy members who defended her, Redgrave said, "I think you should be very proud that in the last few weeks you've stood firm and you have refused to be intimidated by the threats of a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world and to their great and heroic record of struggle against fascism and oppression... I salute you, and I thank you, and I pledge to you that I will continue to fight against anti-Semitism and fascism."
Of the hundreds of signatories to the Artists for Ceasefire letter, only a handful are nominated for the night's big awards, including Lily Gladstone (nominated for Best Actress for Killers of the Flower Moon), Bradley Cooper (Best Actor for Maestro), America Ferrera (Best Supporting Actress for Barbie), Mark Ruffalo (Best Supporting Actor for Poor Things), and Jon Batiste (Best Original Song for American Symphony). Ramy Youssef, co-star of Best Picture nominee Poor Things, has signed the letter and already spoken out in support of the ceasefire at previous Hollywood events. Former winners Mahershala Ali and Lupita Nyong'o, who will present awards on the main stage March 10, have also joined the collective.
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Other red carpet familiar faces who have aligned with Artists for Ceasefire (and may make an appearance) include Academy Award winners like Jessica Chastain and Joaquin Phoenix; Emmy-winners Quinta Brunson and Sara Snook; previous nominees Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, and Oscar Isaac; and notable filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Alfonso Cuarón, and Ryan Coogler.
While a good portion of viewers and fans will be keen to spot their favorite celebs and creatives donning buttons on Oscars night, other organizations are warning pro-Palestine supporters to be more vigilant. A group made up of campaigns Film Workers for Palestine and SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire along with advocacy organization Jewish Voice for Peace issued a warning to their followers ahead of the ceremony, writing in a joint Instagram post: "March 10th is the Oscars, don’t let your self be distracted by the glitz and glam while the Israel launches their planned attack on Rafah, a place they deemed a 'safe zone'. Film workers and audiences, we cannot let ourselves be distracted! EYES ON RAFAH MARCH 10! The world is watching."
Last month, many American Super Bowl viewers were shocked by post-game news that the Israeli government had opened fire on the city of Rafah, a southern "safe zone" home to millions of Palestinians. Many called the timing suspicious, alleging the alignment of the attacks with the live event was intended to steer attention away from the Israeli army's actions.
With public attention to the Palestinian cause at a digital high, the stage is set for a night of red pins — if Hollywood chooses to poke holes in their shining attire.
Topics Oscars Social Good Politics Celebrities
