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Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell wear pins in support of a ceasefire in Gaza while attending the 96th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday in Hollywood, California.
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JC Olivera/Getty Images
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell wear pins in support of a ceasefire in Gaza while attending the 96th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday in Hollywood, California.
JC Olivera/Getty Images
Awards shows have long been a stage for political expression, and this year’s Oscars were no exception.
A notable accessory on Sunday’s red carpet was a red brooch depicting a hand with a black heart in the middle. Celebrities including Billie Eilish, Ramy Youssef and Mark Ruffalo wore the pins in support of Artists4Cease firea group of advocates and artists who oppose the war between Israel and Hamas.
“The brooch symbolizes collective support for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza,” the group said in a statement.
Nadim Cheikhrouha, producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary Four sisters, wears an Artists4Ceasefire pin while attending the Academy Awards on Sunday. The pin features a hand with a black heart in the middle.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Nadim Cheikhrouha, producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary Four sisters, wears an Artists4Ceasefire pin while attending the Academy Awards on Sunday. The pin features a hand with a black heart in the middle.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
The groups website submits an open letter to President Biden and members of Congress calling for an immediate reduction in tensions and a ceasefire in Gaza. The war began after the Hamas attack on October 7 that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and captured about 240 hostages. Since then, Israel’s military operations have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and displaced some 2 million people in Gaza.
Other Oscar attendees who wore the pin included actor Mahershala Ali and director Ava DuVernay. Last month, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker of the band Boygenius wore the same pins at the Grammy Awards.
A full list of the over 400 artists who signed the letter supporting an immediate ceasefire can be found at Artists4Ceasefire. website.
“It’s a universal message: ‘Let’s stop killing children. Let’s not be part of any more wars.’ No one has ever looked back at the war and thought that a bombing campaign was a good idea,” said actor Youssef. said in an interview with Variety. “Being surrounded by so many artists who are willing to lend their voices, the list is growing. A lot of people will be using these pins tonight. There are a lot of talking heads in the news, this is a space to talk hearts.”
Protesters holding signs reading “No awards for genocide” blocked traffic around the Dolby Theater where the awards ceremony was held. The stalemate delayed some red carpet arrivals, as well as the ceremony itself.
“We were late,” said actor Ruffalo. while running down the red carpet. “The Palestinian protest just shut down the Oscars tonight. Humanity wins!”