Celebrities Wear Lapel Pins to Make Political Statements at Oscars 2024

(L-R) Canadian Film director Troy Quane, Israeli-American film producer Avi Arad, and U.S. singer-songwriter Billie Eilish attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on March 10, 2024. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Many prominent fixtures in Hollywood’s film, television, and music industries decided to make political statements during the 96th Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars.

On Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, a slew of celebrities adorned their elaborate gowns and fitted suits with lapel pins as a show of support for various political causes—most notably including the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli-American film producer Avi Arad donned a yellow ribbon in solidarity with the more than 130 hostages that are still being held in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The yellow ribbons, which were provided by the Israeli hostage advocacy organization “Bring Them Home” also made an appearance earlier this year, when various celebrities wore the yellow ribbons during the Golden Globes in January, such as actress J. Smith-Cameron and actor John Ortiz.

Other celebrities, however, showed their support for Palestinians, including actors Milo Machado-Graner and Swann Arlaud, who donned their suits with a pin of the Palestinian flag, per Buzzfeed. Both actors starred in the crime thriller “Anatomy of a Fall,” which took home the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

A flurry of red pins calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages by Hamas was also on display at the Oscars. Singer Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell sported the pins. The duo’s song, “What Was I Made For?” from the Greta Gerwig-directed film “Barbie,” won the evening’s Academy Award for Best Original Song.

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Film director Kaouther Ben Hania, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, and comedian Ramy Youssef, among others, also donned the red pins, which were dispersed by Artists4Ceasefire, a group of artists and advocates who say they are united “in response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Israel and Palestine,” according to the group’s website.

“We are here to lend our voices and our platforms to amplify the global call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the safe return of all hostages, and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza,” the website reads.

During an interview on the red carpet, Mr. Youssef—star of the Oscar-nominated film “Poor Things,” which took home several Academy Awards—discussed Artists4Ceasefire’s open letter, which he said has garnered over 400 celebrity signatories, including from Jennifer Lopez, Rosie O'Donnell, and Rosario Dawson, per The Jerusalem Post.

“We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine. It’s a universal message of, ‘Let’s stop killing kids. Let’s not be part of more war,’” Mr. Youssef said, per BBC. “We need to look at ourselves and be honest, if the leadership supposedly thinks that should happen, why has it not happened? That’s what we’re all encouraging everyone to be vocal about.”

In addition to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, other political topics were on display on the red carpet and throughout the ceremony, including pins calling for equitable pay and those supporting the trans agenda.

Subtly voicing his support for the former, Dave Crossman, a costume designer for films like “The Batman” (2022) and “Napoleon” (2023), wore a pink pin with the slogan “Pay Equity Now.” Meanwhile Troy Quane, Oscar-nominated “Nimona” filmmaker and animator, wore a “Protect Trans Kids” pin.