Hannah Einbinder Explains 'Free Palestine' Emmy Speech as Jewish Obligation
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Los Angeles, California – Actress Hannah Einbinder, known for her role in HBO's "Hacks," used her first Emmy acceptance speech to deliver a powerful political statement, calling for "Free Palestine" and criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Einbinder, who won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, concluded her speech with the bold declaration, sparking immediate discussion across social media and news outlets.
Following her win, Einbinder elaborated on her comments to reporters, stating, > "I thought it was important to talk about Palestine because it’s an issue that’s very dear to my heart. I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the state of Israel, because our religion and our culture is such an important and long-standing institution that is really separate to this sort of ethno-nationalist state." This explanation, as highlighted in a tweet from @SnoozyWeiss, underscored her personal conviction.
The full statement from the stage included, "Go Birds, F*** ICE, and free Palestine," though the expletive directed at ICE was censored during the live broadcast. Einbinder also wore an Artists4Ceasefire pin, a symbol of solidarity with Palestine, throughout the evening. During the ceremony, Einbinder humorously offered to pay the difference for exceeding the allotted speech time, a running joke initiated by host Nate Bargatze for a charity fundraiser.
Einbinder was not alone in using the awards platform for advocacy. Her "Hacks" co-star Meg Stalter arrived with a purse emblazoned with "CEASE FIRE!" and Javier Bardem wore a keffiyeh, vocalizing his support for Palestine on the red carpet. These actions collectively drew attention to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian concerns.
The Emmy winner has consistently used her public platform to advocate for Palestinian rights, having previously signed the Film Workers for Palestine pledge, vowing not to work with Israeli film institutions. Her stance has garnered varied reactions, including praise from some activist groups and criticism from others, such as Israeli activist Hen Mazzig, who argued her words could cause sadness and fear.