Javier Bardem has said he “won’t work” with any company that is in business with Israel.
The actor is among a number of names in the film industry who recently signed a pledge by Film Workers For Palestine to not work with Israeli film institutions amid the conflict in Gaza.
Bardem spoke out on the Emmys red carpet last night (September 14) regarding his decision, telling Variety that he was “denouncing the genocide in Gaza”.
Referencing a recent declaration by a leading association of genocide scholars (via BBC News), the Oscar-winning actor said: “I am talking about the IAGS, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, who study thoroughly genocide and has declared it is a genocide. That’s why we ask for a commercial and diplomatic blockade and also sanctions on Israel to stop the genocide. Free Palestine.”
The star explained that as “a human being” and “a father” he “really cannot take anymore what’s going on”, before speaking about the pledge he’d signed.
“Film Workers for Palestine do not target any individuals based on identity,” he said. “The targets are those film companies and institutions that are complicit and are white-washing or justifying the genocide and its apartheid regime. We do stand with those who are helping and being supportive of the oppressed people.”
Bardem further explained why he “won’t work” with companies in business with Israel, saying: “I cannot work with somebody who justifies or supports the genocide. I can’t. It’s as simple as that. We shouldn’t be able to do that in this industry or any other industry.”
He continued: “The world has changed and what we are witnessing is a genocide in 4K, alive on a daily basis. This has to stop.”
The star also revealed how he speaks to his children about the subject, sharing: “By telling them openly what is going on. By telling them that, of course, what Hamas did on October 7th is horrible. There’s no excuse or justification for that.
“But I have serious doubts that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s agenda was ever the possibility or the will to rescue any hostages. And the family of those hostages are suffering so much are every day on the streets reminding him of that.
“I’m hopeful after unfortunately so many deaths and children being murdered, the world is waking up finally to something that has to be fixed, politically fixed now.”
The recent pledge was also signed by the likes of Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Ayo Edebiri, Riz Ahmed, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay and Asif Kapadia.
“In this urgent moment of crisis, where many of our governments are enabling the carnage in Gaza, we must do everything we can to address complicity in that unrelenting horror,” it says.
Bardem was nominated at last night’s Emmys for the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for his role in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The ceremony’s big winners were The Pitt, The Studio and Adolescence.
