Javier Bardem has said he has faced “professional punishment” for his outspoken support of Palestine, alleging that he lost out on film roles and brand campaigns as a result.
The Spanish actor, 57, told Variety that he had heard comments such as: “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.” He added: “It’s fine. I live in Spain. American studios are not the only place.”
Bardem, who wore a pro-Palestine pin and an anti-war patch at the 2026 Oscars, compared his experience to that of Susan Sarandon, who said in February that she had found it “impossible” to get television roles after attending 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.”
Despite the backlash, Bardem said his Oscar remarks received an ovation rather than the booing he had expected. He urged Hollywood peers to speak out, saying: “You can be part of the community of filmmaking, and also be a citizen, and it’s OK.”
Other actors have also faced repercussions. Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 in 2023 after posting about the Israel-Hamas conflict. She later described the aftermath as “the darkest and hardest year of my life.”
