Celebrities at Emmy Awards bash Israel, keep quiet on Charlie Kirk assassination

There was no mention of the Charlie Kirk assassination at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, but that doesn’t mean the stars steered clear of politics.

Presenters and award winners took swings at Israel as well as the Trump administration on issues such as the arrests of illegal immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Host Nate Bargatze, a Christian, family-friendly comedian, said before the Sunday awards show that he would avoid politics, and he did. But others were less restrained.

Hannah Einbinder, star of the HBO Max series “Hacks,” let loose in accepting the award for best supporting actress in a comedy.

“I just want to say, finally, go birds, f—- ICE and free Palestine,” she declared from the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

“Birds” refers to the Philadelphia Eagles. She said afterward that she wanted to “talk about Palestine because it’s very near and dear to my heart.”

Her comment drew immediate pushback from pro-Israel commentators like Hen Mazzig, who responded with a Monday op-ed in the Hollywood Reporter headlined, “No, Hannah, That Wasn’t Brave.”

Others expressing opposition to Israel on the red carpet included Javier Bardem, who wore a Palestinian keffiyeh, and “Hacks” actress Megan Stalter, who held up a black handbag with the words “CEASE FIRE.”

Mr. Bardem, a nominee for best supporting actor for his role in the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” put in a plug for Film Workers for Palestine, which has called for a boycott of the Israeli film industry.

He said in a red-carpet interview that he supports a “commercial and diplomatic blockade” and “sanctions on Israel to stop this genocide. Free Palestine.”

Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy Board of Directors, emphasized the importance of the industry during “times of cultural regression,” saying that entertainers “must be voices for connection, inclusion, empathy.”

“At the end of this year, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will close its doors because Congress has voted to defund it and silence yet another cultural institution,” Mr. Abrego said during the awards show. “And that’s a reminder of how much our work here matters, especially right now.”

The televised ceremony’s radio silence on Mr. Kirk came in stark contrast to the tributes from the sports industry.

Numerous NFL and MLB franchises, as well as college football teams and NASCAR, recognized Mr. Kirk over the weekend with moments of silence or other public memorials.

“These tributes reflect the widespread admiration for Kirk’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of American Patriots,” said the White House in a Sunday statement. “We commend these organizations for honoring a figure who championed the values that unite us all, and we join the nation in celebrating his legacy.”

But of course they were.

Hollywood claims they’re all about free speech. And yet not even ONE of them could muster a word about ⁦@charliekirk11⁩ being assassinated because of his speech. 🤯

But they did come out for open borders & against Israel…. https://t.co/gZPrIkuTPS

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 15, 2025

Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, said on X that “Hollywood claims they’re all about free speech. And yet not even ONE of them could muster a word about @charliekirk11 being assassinated because of his speech. But they did come out for open borders & against Israel.”

The Hollywood Reporter also took notice. “Emmys Silent on Charlie Kirk Tragedy (But Get Political in Other Ways),” said the headline.

Then again, the decision to stay mum on Mr. Kirk might have been for the best, given the entertainment industry’s well-known left-wing political bent.

“They say, ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say something at all,’” said the Hollywood Reporter. “So it’s probably to be expected that the left-leaning Hollywood crowd at the 2025 Emmy Awards on CBS Sunday night steered clear of bringing up the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.”