Javier Bardem has claimed he has faced “professional punishment” for his outspoken support for Palestine. The Spanish actor, 57, is among the most vocal celebrity activists for Gaza amid the war with Israel.
Speaking to Variety, the Oscar-winning star said he has lost out on jobs because of his stance. “Yes, I’ve heard things: ‘They were going to call you about that project, but that’s gone’. ‘Or this brand was going to ask you to do the campaign, but they cannot’,” Bardem said. He added: “It’s fine. I live in Spain. American studios are not the only place.”
At the 2026 Oscars in March, Bardem wore an anti-war patch and a pro-Palestine pin on his suit. “No to war and free Palestine,” he declared before presenting the award for Best International Feature Film. He admitted he had expected to be booed but instead received “an ovation”.
Bardem compared his experience to that of Susan Sarandon, who in February said it has been “impossible” for her to find television roles after participating in a pro-Palestine rally in 2023. “That tells you how wrong this whole system is,” Bardem said. “Some people will put you on a blacklist.”
He suggested that Hollywood peers are too “comfortable” to speak out. “When I said ‘free Palestine’ in the room, in that theatre, the room broke [out] in a round of applause. So there is support, but it’s not loud enough,” Bardem acknowledged.
Bardem and Sarandon are not alone. In 2023, Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 after making Instagram posts denouncing Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks. Barrera told The Independent that the aftermath was “the darkest and hardest year of my life”.
