Javier Bardem has launched a blistering attack on world leaders Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu, labelling their conduct as emblematic of “male toxic behaviour” during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival.
Oscar-winning actor speaks out at Cannes
The 57-year-old Spanish actor, known for his powerful performances and outspoken political views, was speaking alongside director Rodrigo Sorogoyen ahead of the premiere of their new film, The Beloved. The psychological drama follows Esteban Martinez, a celebrated filmmaker attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter after a lengthy absence.
When questioned about the prevalence of absent father figures and damaged masculinity in this year’s festival lineup, Bardem turned his attention to the broader societal issue of violence against women and what he termed “a culture of toxic masculinity.”
Condemning machista culture
“I’m 57 years old, coming from a very machista country called Spain, where there is an average of two women killed monthly by their ex-husbands or ex-boyfriends, which is horrible,” he said, as reported by Deadline. “Just that amount of women being murdered, it’s unbelievable. And we kind of normalised it. It’s like, ‘Well, yeah, it’s horrible.’ I mean, are we f***ing nuts? We are killing women because some men think they own them, they possess them.”
Bardem then directly named the leaders of the United States, Russia, and Israel. “That problem also goes to Mr Trump and Mr Putin and Mr Netanyahu, the big balls man saying, ‘My c*** is bigger than yours and I’m gonna bomb the s*** out of you,’” he declared. “It’s a f***ing male toxic behaviour that is creating thousands of dead people, so yeah, we have to talk about it. And I think we are talking about it. We are more aware of it, thankfully, because maybe 20 years ago, this was something that nobody would pay attention as a problem, and I think this movie speaks about that.”
Fear and conviction
The actor, one of the most prominent celebrities to criticise the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, admitted to feeling apprehensive about potential backlash due to his outspoken political stances. “The fear does exist,” he told Deadline. “Granted that one has to do things, even if you feel a bit scared or afraid. You have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and look at yourself in the eyes, and that was my case. My mother taught me to be the way I am.”
Bardem’s activism was also on display at the 2026 Oscars in March, where he wore an anti-war patch and a pro-Palestine pin on his suit. “No to war and free Palestine,” he said before presenting the award for Best International Film. Speaking to The Independent on the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, he suggested that many in Hollywood were too “comfortable” to voice their opinions. “I think it's comfortable-ness,” he said. “I think they don't want to feel, themselves, uncomfortable. And that makes me uncomfortable, me and many others.”
He added, “When I said ‘free Palestine’ in the room, in that theatre, the room broke out in a round of applause. So there is support, there is a lot of people supporting it, but it's not loud enough.”
